Key facts
- China is helping Kazakhstan integrate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into its national healthcare system.
- The China-Kazakhstan Center for Traditional Medicine has received over 38,000 patient visits since its establishment.
- Kazakhstani citizens are increasingly seeking TCM treatments for various conditions, including post-stroke rehabilitation and cerebral palsy.
- A Kazakh doctor, Ismail Daurov, trained in TCM in China, is practicing at the center.
- The collaboration is part of the broader Belt and Road Initiative and aims to deepen cultural and health ties.
China is set to deepen its health cooperation with Kazakhstan by assisting the Central Asian nation in integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into its national healthcare system. This initiative signifies a move beyond simple product exports towards a more comprehensive health partnership.
The China-Kazakhstan Center for Traditional Medicine, established in Astana in December 2022, has become a focal point for this collaboration. Since its opening, the center has received a significant number of patient visits, with figures ranging from over 30,000 to more than 38,000 reported across different sources. It offers Kazakh citizens a new healthcare alternative, with local residents embracing therapies such as "fire cups," "painless long needles," and herbal teas.
Patients are seeking TCM for various ailments, including post-stroke rehabilitation and treatment for cerebral palsy in children. Ismail Daurov, a Kazakh doctor who studied TCM for eight years in China, is among the practitioners at the center, highlighting the growing local expertise and acceptance of the treatments. The center sees approximately 60 patients daily and has conducted over 200 remote international consultations.
This collaboration is framed as a continuation of the historical Silk Road spirit, with TCM doctors serving as cultural envoys. The initiative is also linked to the Belt and Road Initiative and the outcomes of the first China-Central Asia Summit, aiming to foster mutual understanding and tangible benefits for the people of both nations. The growing popularity of TCM in Kazakhstan is driven by its perceived effectiveness, particularly for conditions exacerbated by the harsh climate, and positive word-of-mouth referrals.