Telemedicine and Digital Healthcare in Kazakhstan: Global Trends and Development Prospects

The lecture “TELEMEDICINE. GLOBAL TRENDS. DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS OF TELEMEDICINE AND DIGITAL HEALTHCARE IN KZ” was delivered by Skuridin Ivan Viktorovich, Head of the Telemedicine Laboratory and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Informatics and Telemedicine at the Medical Institute of Patrice Lumumba Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship. The audience included master’s students, doctoral candidates, and the faculty of the Department of Health Policy and Organization.

During the presentation, the following topics were covered:
    •    Global Dynamics of Telemedicine
Key drivers of growth: demographic shifts, pandemic experience, advances in ICT, and growing interest in remote patient monitoring.
    •    Core Technologies and Platforms
Teleconsultations, remote diagnostics, wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, and big data—and their roles in improving accessibility and quality of care.
    •    Regulatory Environment and Standardization
A comparison of international regulatory practices, data‑protection requirements, and certification standards for digital medical devices.
    •    Prospects for Digital Healthcare in Kazakhstan
– Development of the national eHealth platform and its integration with electronic medical records.
– Deployment of telemedicine services in remote regions to expand coverage and reduce costs.
– Opportunities for public‑private partnerships and government support.
    •    Challenges and Barriers
The digital divide, cybersecurity concerns, a shortage of qualified IT specialists in healthcare, and the need for targeted educational programs.

The lecture sparked a lively discussion: participants examined practical case studies of telemedicine implementation in Kazakhstan, explored avenues for international collaboration, and planned directions for future research.