Kazakhstan has become the first country in Central Asia to receive the "Maturity Level 3" (ML3) status from the World Health Organization (WHO) for regulating medicines and imported vaccines, as reported on the UN website. This status officially confirms that the national regulatory system meets international standards and is capable of ensuring a high level of control over the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical products.

According to WHO Assistant Director-General Yukiko Nakadana, this result demonstrates Kazakhstan's "political commitment" to building a resilient health system and ensuring access to safe and quality medicines for its population. She emphasized that developing regulatory capacity for drugs and imported vaccines enhances the country's preparedness for crises and strengthens global security.

In Kazakhstan, regulatory functions are carried out by the Ministry of Health through the Committee for Medical and Pharmaceutical Control and the National Center for Expertise of Medicines and Medical Devices. These structures are responsible for the full control cycle, from registration to safety monitoring.

Hans Kluge, Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, described Kazakhstan's achievement as a "big step forward." He stated that it signifies increased confidence in the quality of medicines and vaccines for the country's 20 million residents, as well as a strengthening of the overall health security system for the region.

The new status is expected to expand access to modern medicines for patients in Kazakhstan, increase transparency in regulatory processes, and create favorable conditions for innovation. WHO assessments indicate that Kazakhstan is becoming a key anchor point for developing regulatory systems in Central Asia.

Source: www.gazeta.uz