In the Abai region, free medications will be dispensed via QR codes due to a corruption scandal.

“Such practices led to a shortage of free medications, forcing patients to purchase them with their own funds. In order to conceal the true state of affairs in medical institutions, fictitious prescriptions were issued. On paper, patients were fully supplied with medications,” the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Combating Corruption clarified.

As a result of the analysis, a system for dispensing free medications to patients via QR code has been implemented in all polyclinics in the Abai region through the Ministry of Health’s “Social Wallet” application.

“Currently, this serves as an alternative method for obtaining medications, but it is already showing positive results. The project for dispensing free medications to patients via QR code has been launched in pilot mode, and it is planned to scale it across the entire republic based on the outcomes. The implementation of modern digital solutions significantly reduces the risks of issuing fictitious prescriptions, theft of medications, and saves budgetary funds,” the Anti-Corruption Agency believes.