Diagnostic related groups-based reimbursement in Kazakhstan: Have we learned enough?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Kazakhstan implemented a diagnosis-related group (DRG)-based payment system in 2012, transitioning from a fee-for-service remuneration model for public hospitals. The reform aimed to enhance hospital efficiency and cost control. A national rollout was preceded by a pilot phase involving 21 hospitals in 2011. While DRG systems are increasingly adopted and adapted globally, evidence on their effects remains limited in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective

To assess whether the introduction of the DRG-based system is associated with changes in hospital activity and the quality of care.

Design and methods

A controlled interrupted time series design was employed, using matched control hospitals to estimate the causal impact of the payment reform. The analy

SUBMITTER: Kaskirbayeva D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12576072 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature