WHO’s «Health Strategy 2020» may use Kazakhstan's experience, Melita Vuinovic

This opinion was expressed by Melita Vuinovic, the head of the Kazakhstan office of the WHO.

Over the previous few years Kazakhstan has recorded an increase in life expectancy. The main reason for this positive change is an effective modernization of the health system.

Universal voluntary screening of Kazakhstan population was announced in 2011. The Government has initiated a widespread survey of citizens to the presence of any disease as it is better to prevent illness or treat it at an early stage than fight with its heavy consequences.

The country introduced a national screening program aimed at early detection and prevention of the most common social diseases. Over the past two years there were examined more than 10 million adults and 8 million children. 17 thousand people amongst 5 million of tested ones had positive diagnosis of diabetes. The screening gave these people opportunity to change their lifestyle at an early stage of the disease.

In many countries human health is a private matter, a question of enthusiasm and ability to pay. But the Kazakh government has gone the other way offering the citizens a free charge opportunity to find out their medical condition and take timely treatment of existing ailments. Kazakhstan, according to the WHO, has demonstrated progress in strengthening the health care system on the basis of good policy, innovation and the necessary direction of investment.