On March 17, 2022, a working meeting was held at the School of Medicine of Nazarbayev University to discuss the establishment of an in vitro diagnostics training center.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Single Distributor SK-Pharmacy LLP, Nazarbayev University and Roche company.
During the meeting, the participants examined the building for the possible placement of the center on the basis of Nazarbayev University, and also discussed the composition of the working group, the results of the work and the time frame.
In this message, Head of the State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the importance of cooperation with global pharmaceutical corporations, attracting investors, ensuring the transfer of technologies and the latest developments.
For high-quality treatment of patients, not only medicines are needed, it is important not to lose sight of medical equipment. The President of the country instructed to expand the volume and range of off-take contracts with domestic producers. The share of medicines and medical products of domestic production must be increased from the existing 17% to 50% by 2025.
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is taking systematic measures to solve this problem: the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry until 2025 has been approved, and the HEALTHY NATION National Project for 2021-2025 has been developed.
One of the main directions of the state policy in healthcare is the creation of favorable conditions for equipping medical institutions with modern diagnostic and treatment-and-prophylactic equipment.
As part of the activities carried out to support the development of domestic production of pharmaceutical and medical products, the Single Distributor takes the initiative to provide a platform for major brands to enter the country.
Currently, a substantive study of issues is underway with major world manufacturers in Korea, Japan, Europe and domestic manufacturers of medical equipment. At the sites of the Single Distributor, meetings were held on the prospects for interaction with global brands.
Also, in order to fruitfully interact with the global medical industry and find effective ways to cooperate with recognized brands in Kazakhstan, the Single Distributor, with the support of the Ministry of Health and Kazakh Invest, held a series of round tables and webinars with India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Pakistan, the Diplomatic Club Astana, International Associations of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Association of Russian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers.
As part of the agreements reached with major brands, investment and grant projects will be implemented. Global brands are ready to assist in the introduction of new diagnostic methods, through both methodological support and logistical support for the necessary laboratory equipment for research projects and as grants. This, in turn, will strengthen the laboratory infrastructure of Kazakhstan and ensure its compliance with international standards.
Thus, within the framework of the Kazakh-Swiss business forum, a framework agreement was signed with Roche company on a strategic partnership aimed at establishing the principles and intentions of cooperation between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Roche in order to implement a project to develop the pharmaceutical and medical industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Roche has the expertise, resources and experience to improve laboratory infrastructure and is a global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The signing of the agreement was preceded by a series of meetings and negotiations between the Single Distributor and Roche on realizing the potential of Kazakhstan as a production site, as well as on cooperation to counter the pandemic.
At the site of the established training center of the School of Medicine of Nazarbayev University, in addition to Roche, it is planned to launch educational and innovative programs with other global vendors for comprehensive advanced training of specialists from all over Kazakhstan.
The measures taken for the further development of national health care will make it possible to fully equip all medical organizations with the necessary equipment, renew the bed fund by 50%, replace outdated infrastructure, and increase life expectancy to 75 years.
Following the meeting, the parties noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming an additional incentive in the process of reforming and searching for ways to improve the system, and the development of a cluster initiative is an important factor in the development of the industry. The main priority in this direction is to attract domestic research institutes, large scientific laboratories, medical universities, domestic production sites, attract investment project support institutions, local executive bodies, as well as deploy medical clusters in free economic and industrial zones.
The formation and maintenance of a close relationship between science, education and the current pharmaceutical production will give impetus to the development of domestic science and strengthen the scientific heritage of Kazakhstan. New challenges must be seen as an opportunity for real and fundamental change.