Kazakhstan has introduced fast-track registration for medicines from countries with high quality-control standards. The process now takes 15 working days instead of two years, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said at a government meeting.
A total of 1,048 registration certificates for medicines were issued in the first nine months of 2026, exceeding the total for all of 2025. Domestic manufacturers accounted for one in every four medicines registered during the period.
The fast-track procedure has been used to register 16 medicines and medical devices made in the United States, Germany, France, Denmark, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea. Kazakhstan is among the leading Eurasian Economic Union member states by the number of registered medicines.
Legislative changes have also introduced a “one-stop shop” principle to simplify registration. More than 600 services have already been provided through the new mechanism. The state can also initiate registration of essential medicines without waiting for an application from a manufacturer.
The country currently has 7,275 registered medicine names. Digital tools, including artificial intelligence, are being introduced to analyse registration documents and make expert reviews more efficient. The authorities are also focusing on state quality control and the monitoring of adverse reactions.
The World Health Organization has confirmed the third maturity level of Kazakhstan’s national regulatory system. Kazakhstan is the first CIS country to reach this level.
The next step is to develop laboratory infrastructure. A modern facility for vaccine testing and independent assessment of vaccine quality and safety is planned for Astana.
