Unified Emergency Medical Response Across Turkic Nations: Proposed by Kazakhstan's Emergency Medicine Center
Rewritten Article:
The National Coordination Center for Emergency Medicine in Astana, Kazakhstan, signed a memorandum on April 7, transforming into a regional platform for cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), as reported by the Central Communications Service.
This center is designed to ensure prompt delivery of emergency medical care during crises such as pandemics, natural disasters, and man-made emergencies across the OTS member states.
Speaking about Kazakhstan's air ambulance service, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova revealed that it conducts over 2,000 flights yearly, transporting patients both domestically and abroad. Currently, helicopters are stationed in 15 regions, with plans to add two more by the end of the year.
On the horizon is the first international air ambulance flight to South Korea, scheduled to transport a critically ill citizen to a hospital in Almaty. Unlike many countries, Kazakhstan's air ambulance services are fully state-funded and provided free of charge, highlighting the nation's commitment to saving its citizens' lives.
The center's chairman, Yerzhan Adilbekov, shared that the platform will serve as a platform for joint training of OTS specialists. They have already agreed to host masterclasses with Uzbek colleagues in their simulation center, aiming to train emergency doctors to international standards. Moreover, the center houses a national stroke center responsible for coordinating emergency care for stroke patients and plans to expand into emergency care in areas such as obstetrics, toxicology, and more.
The multifunctional center coordinates medical aviation, ambulance services, and hospital admissions, featuring a 250-bed hospital, nine clinical centers, and services that include inpatient care, air medical transport, and clinical diagnostics.
The establishment of this center positions Kazakhstan as a strategic asset for cross-border collaboration within the OTS, likely strengthening cooperation through standardized emergency protocols, disaster resource coordination, and knowledge exchange. It is built on Kazakhstan's growing expertise in regional health governance initiatives, such as the TB-Free Central Asia Initiative with WHO and SCO health collaborations (including emergency medical coordination and digital healthcare integration).
The center's capabilities intersect with Kazakhstan's broader healthcare modernization efforts, including mobile health teams for rural areas and integrated primary care models with psychological support, providing a strong foundation for cross-border emergency medicine leadership.
- The National Coordination Center for Emergency Medicine, having been transformed into a regional platform for cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), plans to add masterclasses focused on emergency medicine to its educational offerings, including sessions with Uzbek colleagues.
- In addition to its role in emergency medicine, the multifunctional center in Astana, Kazakhstan also houses a national stroke center and aims to expand its emergency care services to areas such as obstetrics, toxicology, and more.
- As part of Kazakhstan's commitment to providing comprehensive health-and-wellness services, the country's air ambulance service, which conducts over 2,000 flights yearly, will reportedly conduct the first international air ambulance flight to South Korea, transporting a critically ill citizen to a hospital in Almaty, demonstrating the nation's dedication to saving its citizens' lives.
