On January 8, Minister of Health Kanbek Dosmambetov held a meeting of the headquarters, where current issues related to ARVI and influenza were discussed, including the load on hospitals and the functioning of the primary care level amid rising morbidity.
According to the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Department, 15,043 cases of ARVI and influenza were registered at the end of 2025, while 9,490 cases were reported in the first week of 2026. From January 5 to 8, 2026, the number of cases amounted to 6,745.
Representatives of children's hospitals and health coordinators reported that the number of admissions to hospitals corresponds to long-term norms. However, part of the load is created by patients directly visiting hospitals, bypassing the primary care level, despite the availability of duty and reception services in Family Medicine Centers on weekends and holidays. The minister instructed to improve the sorting and routing of patients in the FMC for more effective distribution of the flow between levels of medical care.
Kanbek Dosmambetov also emphasized the importance of activating sanitary and educational work and collaborating with the media to clarify referral routes and preventive measures against seasonal infections.
“Although the epidemiological situation in the country remains stable, it is necessary to organize actions at all levels. We must improve sorting and routing in the primary care level, continue preventive work, and more actively inform the population through the media to reduce unjustified visits to hospitals and strengthen the healthcare system as a whole,” the minister noted.
