Kazakhstan's achievements in 2010: We did every thing possible to improve people's health, President

in his annual Address to the Nation.

The Healthcare Development and Reformation Program for 2005-2010, including the introduction of the Unified National Healthcare System were accomplished last year. Pursuant to the President's tasks the healthcare priority are stated as follows: maternal and child's health, reduction of morbidity and death rates, shared responsibility for health and healthy lifestyle.

The 2010 budget expenditures increased fourfold against 2009. One of the key goals of the state program is the replenishment of the healthcare sector. Above 400 healthcare facilities were built, 4000 medical organizations were thoroughly repaired, medical equipment worth KZT 75 bln was acquired. Improvement of the physical infrastructure let substantially raise the efficiency of the system of rendering of medical services.

It is noteworthy, the key figures of public health advanced. Birth rates escalated by 25%, total mortality dropped by 11% driving the natural increase up to 13.55 in 2010 against 7.9 in 2004. The life expectancy doubled to make 66.8 years in 2010. Maternal death decreased more than 1.5 times, infant death showed a fall by 15%.

Stable backing of the country's healthcare let root high technologies and new approaches. 8 referral centers, 24 cardiac surgery and 48 cardiological departments were open in Kazakhstan. The country's surgeons made the first-ever open heart operations. More than 200 specialists studied abroad. This year it is planned to put into operation cardiac surgery centers in Astana and Pavlodar.

The country observes reduction of mortality rates. Cancer death rates went down by 18% comparing to 2004. About 40 new TB dispensaries were put into operation. Above KZT 6 bln was channeled for providing the patients with free antituberculous remedies. Tuberculosis lethality has dropped twofold since 2004.

On the instruction of the Kazakh President the Unified National Healthcare System was established. Its main principles are ensuring the free choice of a doctor and a health facility by a patient; formation of competitive environment in the field of medical services; ensuring that payment for medical services corresponds to actually incurred expenses. Under this system the same amount of funds as was usually spent earlier allowed to provide inpatient care to more people. The system of healthcare became more patient-oriented. 500,000 people receiving planned treatment in hospitals used the opportunity to choose the health facility, while 38 percent were rural residents. 94 percent received treatment in their own regions, 1.2 percent went to other regions.

Thanks to the new system patients have got access to the advanced technologies in the field of medicine. The regional health facilities offer services on neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, otolaryngology, traumatic surgery, oncology, in vitro fertilization. New international technologies are successfully applied in the regions.

Another major achievement reached through the introduction of the Unified National Healthcare System in 2010 was the opportunity to reinvest funds received by reducing the number of admissions to inpatient hospitals. The amount of reinvested finds totaled KZT 14.6 billion. Thus, the goals set for 2010 were fully realized.

Much attention is also paid to the increase of access to health care for the population, especially those living in remote and inaccessible regions. About 150 television health centers that provide more than 10,000 consultations a year have been launched since 2010.

Owing to implementation of the Road Map-2010 Program 264 health facilities (out of 266 planned) were repaired. 101 facilities of the state sanitary and epidemiological service underwent capital overhaul. KZT 79 billion were allocated for the program "100 schools, 100 hospitals". KZT 78.1 billion, i.e. 99 percent were successfully utilized.