On 13–14 November 2025, Almaty hosted the International Congress “Community as a Driving Force for the Development of Primary Health Care,” which was attended by representatives of Astana Medical University. The event became one of the key professional platforms of the year, bringing together primary health care (PHC) specialists from Kazakhstan and abroad.

The Congress was organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Public Health Department of Almaty, and the National Association “Primary Health Care,” chaired by Professor Tolebay Rakypbekov (President of the Association) and Professor Roza Abzalova (Chair of the Board).

The forum gathered a wide range of international experts, including representatives of the WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care, specialists from CIS countries, Europe, the USA and Canada, as well as leading academic institutions and non-governmental organizations.

The Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Akmaral Alnazarova, took part in the plenary session and the official opening of the Congress, emphasizing the importance of PHC development and strengthening the role of the community within the national health care system.

Staff members of AMU participated in plenary and breakout sessions dedicated to political leadership in PHC, multidisciplinary team-based models, innovations in nursing, social support for patients, and enhancing the role of communities in health care. Their participation helped strengthen international cooperation, exchange best practices with WHO and foreign experts, and present AMU’s own educational and research initiatives. The insights gained will be used to further develop the competencies of PHC specialists and improve workforce training programs.