Analysis results On August 21–22, 2025, Astana hosted the international congress “Days of Pediatric Surgery of Kazakhstan”, the largest industry event in the field of pediatric surgery to date. The organizers were the Corporate Fund “University Medical Center” (UMC) and the Society of Pediatric Surgeons of Astana, with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The venue was the UMC Center for Maternal and Child Health.
The congress brought together more than 500 specialists from Kazakhstan and 14 foreign countries. Over two days, participants delivered 100+ reports, and more than 30 international experts from the USA, UK, Canada, Italy, Turkey, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Russia shared their expertise with Kazakh colleagues. Attendees included leading physicians, medical university professors, young specialists, and heads of clinics and specialized programs.
The scale of the event emphasized the importance of pediatric healthcare issues in the country. According to industry data, every year in Kazakhstan more than 1,100 children per 100,000 under 14 are diagnosed with congenital and genetic disorders. Childhood cancer incidence is also rising: in 2022, it reached 247.1 cases per 100,000, exceeding previous years. Complex pediatric surgeries require highly qualified training and constant knowledge updates — precisely what this congress aimed to provide.
The forum’s program featured 8 sections, covering a wide range of topics: neonatal, oncological, and reconstructive surgery, urology, orthopedics, fetal surgery, and otorhinolaryngology. Alongside theoretical lectures, participants engaged in practical sessions — master classes, surgical demonstrations, and live broadcasts from operating rooms followed by discussions of tactics and methods.
Yuri Pya, Chairman of the Board of UMC,
noted:
“This congress became not just a professional meeting, but a true
environment for exchanging experiences, technologies, and knowledge. Such
events strengthen our pediatric surgery system and allow Kazakhstani doctors to
adopt advanced practices.”
Dastan Rustemov, Chairman of the Society of
Pediatric Surgeons of Astana, added:
“The format was dynamic and engaging. We went beyond lectures — analyzing
real clinical cases, working hands-on during master classes, and engaging in
live discussions. Both experienced surgeons and young specialists were actively
involved.”
Among the invited speakers were Prof. Mark Davenport (UK), Dr. Asim Shukla (USA), Prof. Joao Luis Pippi Salle (Canada), Prof. Pramod Reddy (USA), Prof. Feryal Gun Soysal (Turkey), Prof. Girolamo Mattioli (Italy), Olli Pajulo (Finland), Kishore Sandu (Switzerland), Dariusz Patkowski (Poland), Chang Li Wei (Singapore), Muhammad Arshad (Pakistan), Alexander Razumovsky (Russia), Vitalii Viklich (Ukraine) and other renowned international experts.
According to participants, the “Days of Pediatric Surgery of Kazakhstan” demonstrated the high professional level of the national community and the need for ongoing exchange of knowledge with international colleagues. The congress will continue in the future as an annual platform for professional growth, international cooperation, and the development of pediatric surgery in the country.