In 2025, staff from the institute conducted monitoring at the NCPMC, which revealed serious problems, including a lack of equipment and medications.
According to doctors at the Center, parents lack trust in medicine, face financial difficulties, and for religious reasons, many turn to healers and folk medicine. An example is given of parents who decided to refuse traditional treatment for their child with leukemia after achieving remission and turned to alternative methods. A year later, the disease returned with progression, and the child passed away.
As of the end of August 2025, about 60 children were receiving treatment at the NCPMC. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of new cases of cancer among children. While in 2014 there were about 70 new cases per year, since 2023, this number has exceeded 200. This increase is attributed not only to a rise in incidence but also to improved diagnostic methods, the report noted. The most commonly diagnosed conditions in children are acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastomas, and nephroblastomas.
Ombudsman Jamila Dzhamanbaeva proposed developing a new strategy for monitoring and preventing cancer diseases, as well as approving a comprehensive cancer control plan for 2025-2030. She also called for budget provisions for the maintenance of medical equipment and a review of procurement procedures for medications for cancer patients. Providing social and psychological support to families facing treatment refusal is also important.
