Almaty residents were given 7.3 billion tenge worth of drugs for free.
Help! I need to know how to get free medication in Almaty. Let's crack this open, shall we? With over 264,000 residents receiving pharmaceuticals worth a whopping 7.3 billion tenge this year alone, it's clear that the free medication service in Almaty is on point!
According to the Almaty branch of the Medical Insurance Fund, insured residents have been actively availing expensive medical services due to the OMS implementation. Not only have the medical service packages expanded, but the range of prescribed medications by disease types has broadened too.
By the way, Tleukhan Abildaev, the director of the Almaty branch, mentioned that a whopping 19 billion tenge was allocated for the provision of patients with pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Almaty for the year 2021.
To score some free meds, you need to be under dispensary care—either with a general practitioner or a specialized doctor at your place of residence. Kiddos under 18 can get the goods after receiving a doc's diagnosis.
As for the specific diseases covered under the General Out-of-Hospital Medical care Program (GOMBP) for adults, there are 41, while the number extends to 63 for minors under the Out-of-Hospital Compulsory Medical Insurance (OMS). Needlessly to say, there's relief for 35 disease types under GOMBP alone if you're an adult.
Now, while I can't lay down the exact diseases covered under GOMBP and OMS in Almaty, here's a bit of context from Kazakhstan's wider healthcare framework:
- Guaranteed Volume of Free Medical Care (GOMBP): Historically, this program covers critical illnesses like TB, HIV, and emergency care, along with primary care diagnostics and consultations.
- Compulsory Social Health Insurance (OMS): OMS, active since 2020, broadens coverage beyond GOMBP but still focuses on essential services like meds for chronic diseases and post-hospitalization treatments.
Stay tuned for more deets as I dig deeper into the ever-expanding world of Almaty's free medication scene! And if you're curious about TB-specific programs or other aspects of Kazakhstan's healthcare framework, feel free to hit me up with a question!
- The free medication service in Almaty is heavily funded, with a provision of 19 billion tenge allocated for 2021 alone.
- The Almaty Medical Insurance Fund has seen increased usage of medical services due to the implementation of the Out-of-Hospital Medical care Program (OMS).
- To qualify for free medication, one must be under dispensary care, either with a general practitioner or a specialized doctor in Almaty.
- There are 41 specific diseases covered under the General Out-of-Hospital Medical care Program (GOMBP) for adults, and the number increases to 63 for minors under the Out-of-Hospital Compulsory Medical Insurance (OMS).
- Critical illnesses such as TB and HIV fall under the coverage of the Guaranteed Volume of Free Medical Care (GOMBP) in Kazakhstan's healthcare framework.
- Chronic diseases and post-hospitalization treatments are included in the coverage provided by the Compulsory Social Health Insurance (OMS), which has been active since 2020.
- The pharmaceutical industry, along with general news, health and wellness, medical-conditions, therapies and treatments, finance, business, are among the domains that can be influenced by the ever-evolving landscape of Almaty's free medication scene.
