In a Law adopted on December 2, 2020 No.379-VІ ЗРК, Government of Kazakhstan has approved “Republican budget for years 2021-2023” – which outlines all state (public) funds for the three-year budget cycle.
In this publicly available document, the Attachment No.5 specifies: “The List of Republican budget programs (and subprograms) which are exempt from cuts during republican budget execution for year 2021″ (source – http://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z2000000379).
In other words, there is a list of public spending programs which are exempt from the overall budget cuts (“sequestering”) with the aim of cost-saving; on the contrary, they are, in most cases, increased or preserved at previous levels.
In line with the country’s committments to achieving and maintaining Universal Health Coverage, public funding for health care is preserved from cuts, namely the Budget Program No.067 “State Guaranteed Health Benefits Package”, and Budget Program No.070 “Protection of Public Health” – both administered by the Ministry of Healthcare. A more detailed listing of subprograms under these budget programs is available in Attachment No.5 to the abovementioned law.
In addition to these centrally (nationally) administered public funds, the only two local budget programs (administered by the local governments), which are also exempt from budget cuts, are “Health care” and “Education”.
Such state budget planning demonstrates Kazakhtan’s priorities, out of sectors — in health care and education, despite difficult pandemic and post-pandemic times.
