RIGHTS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN KAZAKHSTAN: OFFICIAL, EXPERT AND AVERAGE CITIZENS’ DISCOURSES

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the manifestation of a human rights based approach to health in the official, everyday and expert discourses of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The authors analyzed the perceptions of the right to health in general and the right to health care services both in scholarly research and international intergovernmental documents. The study also involved data from official websites, media materials, interviews with experts, and the results of monitoring social media. All three discourses contain problems with access to medical care in the regions and rural areas, as well as obstacles to access to medications. Official discourse is more sensitive to the problem of the lack of medical professionals than to the problem of their qualification. The following conclusions of the human rights-based approach to health are implemented to a greater or lesser extent in the Republic of Kazakhstan: principles of accountability, non-discrimination, accessibility, acceptability and quality.