ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 30. Kazakhstan has
reached the third level of maturity of its national medicines
regulatory system under the World Health Organization (WHO)
assessment, strengthening its attractiveness for investment in the
pharmaceutical sector,
Trend reports via the country’s Ministry of Healthcare.


The development was highlighted during the Indian-Kazakh
pharmaceutical business forum held in New Delhi, which brought
together more than 60 Indian pharmaceutical companies producing
medicines, raw materials, medical devices, vaccines, and
biotechnology products.


The achievement makes Kazakhstan the first country in the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the fourth in the WHO
European Region to reach this level, confirming compliance with
international standards of quality, safety, and efficacy of
medicines.


Reaching the third maturity level means that Kazakhstan’s
regulatory system meets global requirements in drug registration,
quality control, pharmacovigilance, and manufacturing inspections,
increasing confidence among international organizations, investors,
and manufacturers.


According to the ministry, ensuring the accessibility and
effectiveness of drug provision remained a key focus in 2025, with
3.6 million people across the country receiving free medicines
under state programs, covering 15.6 million prescriptions worth
262.9 billion tenge ($543.8 million).







The ministry also noted that the list of medicines has been
updated, with ineffective drugs removed and a stronger focus placed
on modern and innovative treatments.


For reference, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies
national medicines regulatory systems on a scale from 1 to 4 using
its Global Benchmarking Tool, which assesses more than 250
indicators, including drug approval, quality control, and safety
monitoring. Reaching maturity level 3 indicates that a country has
a stable and functioning regulatory system aligned with
international standards and capable of overseeing the full
lifecycle of medicines.


Countries that have achieved this level include, among others,
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Egypt. In practical terms, this
status allows national regulators to be recognized by international
partners, which can facilitate participation in global
pharmaceutical supply chains, simplify export procedures, and
support cooperation with international procurement mechanisms. It
is also considered an important factor for foreign companies when
assessing regulatory predictability and market entry
conditions.


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