Japan Provides 7 Million USD Grant Aid to Kazakhstan for Upgrading Medical Infrastructure in the Abyay Region

Kazakhstan International News Agency, 29th - According to a news release from the Ministry of Health, on the 29th, Minister of Health Akhmaral Aynazarova signed an intergovernmental agreement with Japanese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Masaharu Iijima. Under the agreement, the Japanese government will provide 108.7 million yen (approximately 7 million US dollars) in grant aid to support the construction and development of medical infrastructure in the Abyay region.

The grant aid will be specifically used to purchase high-tech medical equipment for the Semey State Medical University Hospital. The project aims to equip the hospital with modern diagnostic and treatment systems, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, computed tomography (CT) scanners, endoscopes, intensive care equipment, and other advanced medical devices.

This move will significantly enhance the overall medical service capacity in the region, especially in providing specialized, high-tech medical assistance to populations affected by nuclear tests, which has important social and humanitarian significance. The implementation of this project has also become an important component of the long-term and stable cooperation between Kazakhstan and Japan in the health sector.

In addition, Japan continues to provide support to Kazakhstan through its "Grassroots" Human Security Assistance Program. This program aims to strengthen the grassroots health system, improve the accessibility of basic medical services, and reduce the gap in medical development levels between regions.

At the same time, cooperation between the two countries in the fields of medical education and healthcare talent development is becoming increasingly active. Through projects of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the "Young Leaders Program," both sides have carried out multi-level exchanges and cooperation.

Semey State Medical University has already established partnerships with several well-known Japanese universities, including Nagasaki University, Hiroshima University, Oita University, Shimane University, and Kochi University. The collaboration covers areas such as academic exchange, clinical internships, joint research, and faculty exchanges.

Currently, 27 Japanese medicines and 445 Japanese medical devices have been registered in the Kazakhstani pharmaceutical and medical device market. This data reflects the high level of trust that Kazakhstan has in Japanese medical technology, as well as the stable presence of Japanese companies in the Kazakhstani market.

Previously, Japan also provided 68,790 US dollars in funding through the "Grassroots" program to the Zhezbek blood center in the Jambyl region, for the purchase of 5 platelet storage devices.

Additionally, with the aid funds provided by the Japanese government previously, the Semey City Emergency Hospital has introduced a staff call system, and the National Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics has newly built and put into use a CT examination room.

Currently, both sides are discussing the establishment of the "Japan-Kazakhstan Medical Hub" (Japan–Kazakhstan Medical Hub) project. The center is planned to integrate clinical research, medical equipment maintenance, JICA educational programs, and AI-based remote medical solutions.

The Ministry of Health stated that Kazakhstan expresses sincere gratitude to the Japanese government for the support provided, for the continuous advancement of bilateral health cooperation, and for the contributions made to improving the medical security level of the Kazakhstani people. Kazakhstan is willing to further deepen cooperation with Japan in areas with development potential, such as medical tourism and rehabilitation, organ transplantation and donation, health digitization, artificial intelligence and remote medicine, and the construction of Japanese-style high-tech medical institutions.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1852916913455116/

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