On January 8, Minister of Health Kanbek Dosmambetov held a meeting of the headquarters dedicated to issues related to ARVI and influenza. The meeting discussed the current epidemiological situation, the burden on healthcare facilities, as well as the work of the primary care level in the context of rising morbidity.
According to the Department of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance, by the end of 2025, there were 15,043 registered cases of ARVI and influenza. In the first week of 2026, the number of cases amounted to 9,490, and from January 5 to 8, 2026, there were 6,745 new cases recorded.
Leaders of children's hospitals and health coordinators noted that admissions to hospitals are within the range of long-term values. However, part of the burden on hospitals is due to patients directly seeking care, ignoring the primary care level, despite the availability of on-call services and consultations at Family Medicine Centers on weekends and holidays. The minister instructed to improve the sorting and routing of patients in these centers for more effective distribution of the flow between different levels of medical care.
Kanbek Dosmambetov also emphasized the importance of enhancing sanitary and educational work and collaborating with the media to inform the public about referral pathways and preventive measures for seasonal infections.
“Although the epidemiological situation in the country is stable, it requires organized actions at all levels. It is necessary to strengthen sorting and routing at the primary care level, continue preventive work, and more actively inform the population through the media to reduce unjustified admissions to hospitals and strengthen the healthcare system as a whole,” the minister noted.
