LocationsWHO, Ministry of Health and UNDP strengthen Kazakhstan’s laboratory network with new vehicles
March 12, 2026
Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan
The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Pandemic Fund, today marked the ceremonial handover of 30 specialized vehicles to strengthen Kazakhstan’s national laboratory network. The procurement and delivery of the vehicles were implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The vehicles were procured under the Pandemic Fund–supported project “Strengthening National Capacities to Prepare for Pandemics and Response to Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Kazakhstan,” jointly implemented by WHO and UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The project aims to enhance the country’s ability to detect, respond to, and manage public health threats by strengthening laboratory systems and points of entry across the country.
“The transfer of specialized vehicles will significantly increase the efficiency of specialists working in the field, improve the logistics of sample delivery, and also speed up laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations of infectious disease outbreaks,”noted First Vice Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan Timur Sultangaziyev.
Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan
The vehicles will support the work of the National Center of Expertise of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control, regional laboratories, anti-plague stations, and the National Center for Public Health. They are deployed across multiple regions of Kazakhstan, including hard‑to‑reach areas, supporting nationwide laboratory surveillance and response operations.
It will enable the safe and timely transportation of biospecimens, strengthen epidemiological surveillance, and and improve operational readiness in responding to to public health emergencies and biological threats. By improving mobility and biosafety during sample transport, the vehicles will help reduce delays in laboratory testing and support faster decision‑making during outbreak investigations.
“As you well know, Kazakhstan is the nineth biggest country in the world with a huge landscape and long distances between populated areas. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure safe and timely transportation of laboratory samples and strengthening epidemiological surveillance across the country. So, we are witnessing one of the best outcomes of the WHO-UNDP Agreement – handing over vehicles which support health care workers in the fields while transferring samples, conducting investigation of outbreaks, and thus, protection people’s health”said WHO Representative in Kazakhstan Dr. Skender Syla.
Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan
Reliable laboratory logistics, including secure sample transportation, are essential elements of effective disease detection and response. By improving mobility and coordination among laboratories across Kazakhstan, the vehicles will help strengthen national preparedness and reinforce the country’s health security architecture.
This initiative forms part of broader efforts led by WHO, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and national institutions, to modernize and strengthen laboratory systems in Kazakhstan with financial support from the Pandemic Fund. These efforts contribute to improving early detection, surveillance, and response capacities for infectious diseases nationwide.
UNDP supported the implementation of the procurement and delivery process, drawing on its operational expertise and global procurement networks to ensure transparent, efficient and timely delivery of the vehicles to beneficiary institutions across the country. This included managing complex international procurement, certification, and delivery processes to enable the rapid deployment of vehicles for public health use.
“UNDP supports the Government of Kazakhstan and WHO in translating pandemic preparedness commitments into concrete operational capacity. Effective procurement and delivery are critical to ensuring that essential health systems function when they are needed most,”said Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan
The initiative contributes to Kazakhstan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national preparedness for health emergencies, improve laboratory infrastructure, and reinforce the resilience of the public health system.
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