KazNU Scientists Study Socio-Economic Inequality in Kazakhstan’s Healthcare System

Scientists from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University are conducting a comprehensive study of the impact of socio-economic inequality on population health in Kazakhstan and developing methodological tools to improve the healthcare system.

Health is a key component of human capital and one of the major factors determining quality of life and socio-economic well-being. Health outcomes are influenced by a wide range of factors, including income, education, working conditions, the environment, access to medical services, and the effectiveness of healthcare systems.

Reducing health inequalities and ensuring equitable access to healthcare therefore represent important scientific and social challenges. The KazNU research project addresses these issues through an interdisciplinary approach combining health economics, demography, epidemiology, economic sociology, and labor economics.

The main objective of the project is to develop a methodology and analytical toolkit for assessing population health, health-related inequality, and quality of life at different levels of data aggregation.

The study will examine socio-economic determinants of health, the effects of health insurance and investments in health capital, access to medical services, and the performance of regional healthcare systems in Kazakhstan.

The scientific novelty of the project lies in developing theoretical and methodological approaches for the empirical assessment of the returns on health insurance and investments in health capital in Kazakhstan during 2019–2024, including their effects on income and health outcomes.

The research will use concentration indices to quantitatively assess the relationship between socio-economic status and health inequality, alongside advanced econometric and statistical methods. Parametric models with instrumental variables and non-parametric models based on kernel regressions will be applied to assess the performance of regional healthcare systems.

A particular focus will be placed on the impact of the compulsory health insurance system on the quality of regional healthcare systems. Infant mortality, maternal mortality, and mortality among children under five will be examined as key indicators of healthcare system performance.

The project combines qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches. The research methodology includes multivariate statistical analysis, econometric modeling, bibliometric methods, meta-analysis, and in-depth interviews.

For the empirical analysis, the researchers will use pooled data on health indicators, regional compulsory health insurance systems, and socio-economic characteristics across 17 regions of Kazakhstan for 2019–2024.

The analysis will cover a broad range of health indicators, including self-assessed health, health-related work limitations, chronic diseases, healthcare utilization, nutritional quality, and life expectancy.

The study will draw on Kazakhstan Household Budget Survey data for 2019–2024, microdata from the Bureau of National Statistics, international WHO and ILO databases, and the research team's own datasets.

The research findings will provide a scientific basis for developing recommendations aimed at reducing social inequality in healthcare and improving access to medical services.

The project will develop a methodology for assessing the impact of health insurance and investments in health capital on poverty reduction and the reduction of inequality. The researchers will also formulate recommendations concerning public policy priorities related to inequalities in access to healthcare.

Particular attention will be given to differences between socio-economic groups. This approach will help identify heterogeneous effects of insurance programs and other factors on different population groups and support more targeted social and healthcare policies.

The project draws on international research experience while critically adapting relevant approaches to the social, economic, and historical context of Kazakhstan.

The interdisciplinary study brings together health economics, demography, epidemiology, economic sociology, and labor economics. Its results are expected to contribute to the development of new approaches to understanding health inequality and its impact on labor markets, social well-being, demographic processes, and quality of life.

The 36-month project will be implemented from 2025 to 2027. Its findings are expected to contribute to evidence-based approaches for improving the healthcare system and reducing socio-economic inequality in Kazakhstan.