The Social Medical Insurance Fund (SMIF) has introduced new rules for registering at polyclinics across Kazakhstan. Citizens may now enrol at the clinics, egov.kz website and public services centres.
Photo credit: kazpravda.kz.
“I want to note that citizens can register with medical organisations that are accredited in the national healthcare database. Medical organisations provide healthcare services within a guaranteed volume of free medical care and compulsory social health insurance,” said SMIF managing director Zabira Orazalieva.
She noted national ID is sufficient to register. If enrolling a family member, written consent and a copy of ID is required; for a child, a birth certificate and legal guardianship document are needed.
To enrol through egov.kz, one must log in and access the healthcare section, then select registration with the medical organisation that provides primary healthcare.
“The system will offer you to fill out the electronic application form; you can see the result of the request online. Individuals can also check their current registration status with medical organisations and register for a new one if desired,” said Orazalieva.
For citizens’ convenience, self-registration connection points have been set up at public services centres.
SMIF director for strategy Serik Tanirbergenov explained the new principles for registering at polyclinics. The first includes an introduction of family doctors and general medical practice in primary healthcare. The provider will know the patient’s family, history of the disease and history of family development. This will ensure providing medical care in an appropriate way by considering all family nuances.
“In addition, you must remember that when you choose a polyclinic or primary healthcare organisation, in the first place choose a specific doctor – be it a district therapist for an adult or a paediatrician for children,” he said.
The second principle is accessible medical care.
“Despite the fact that you have the right to choose, you should focus on the principle of walking distance, so that the healthcare organisation is 20-30 minutes away from your home,” he added.
Another important addition within the current procedure is the limit on the maximum number of patients per health worker. This aspect will be introduced next year.
“There is a certain problem with the queues and in order to exclude them, to reduce the burden on the doctor, this year there are plans to introduce a maximum burden on one general practitioner – 1,700 citizens per doctor,” said Tanirbergenov.
The list of polyclinics accredited in the national healthcare database is published on the SMIF website, fms.kz.
