25 years of IVF in Kazakhstan

April 18, 1995 marks the founding of Ecomed, Kazakhstan’s first laboratory specializing in infertility treatment through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

That same year, the laboratory’s small team of specialists achieved a major scientific breakthrough for the country — Kazakhstan’s first successful embryo transfer, which resulted in a long-awaited pregnancy.

Finally, on July 31, 1996, Kazakhstan’s first IVF baby was born, an achievement led by Saltanat Baikoshkarova, Doctor of Biological Sciences, founder and Scientific Director of the ECOMED network of clinics.

(Photo: Saltanat Baikoshkarova at Ecomed, Kazakhstan’s first IVF laboratory, April 1995)

Today marks 25 years since the introduction of IVF in Kazakhstan — a method that over the years has helped bring enough miracle babies into the world to fill an entire small town!

This anniversary year is a special one for the employees and patients of the ECOMED network of clinics. At the beginning of the year, the management of the clinic network decided to forgo lavish celebrations and unnecessary events in favor of providing charitable assistance to patients and supporting children and people with disabilities who are in need.

The Head of State declared 2020 the “Year of the Volunteer.” Following this inspiring example, Ecomed planned a series of charitable initiatives to support couples facing infertility.

IVF is a high-tech treatment that involves significant costs, and for many families this becomes a decisive factor when considering treatment. For this reason, the ECOMED network of clinics developed a number of programs offering financial assistance and preferential terms for clinic services.

Since the beginning of the year, free outreach consultations have been held in regions where there are no qualified specialists in infertility treatment. Special support programs have also been launched for Ecomed patients undergoing multiple stages of treatment.

“This anniversary year has been declared the ‘Year of Charity’ at our clinics. Now, as the country and the entire world are facing a pandemic, this is not the time for celebrations. This is a time when we truly need to stand together and for each of us to help in whatever way we can.

We sincerely hope that the situation will stabilize and that, without fearing for the health of our loved ones, we will be able to return to our normal lives and work.

We wish everyone excellent health, happiness, and well-being for your families! And may the time come soon when we can once again devote ourselves fully to helping future parents fulfill their dream of having a child!” — the Ecomed Clinic team.   

It is worth noting that infertility is a particularly pressing issue in Kazakhstan, as approximately 20,000 couples face infertility every year. Of these, around 10,000 require assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is used when pregnancy cannot be achieved through other treatment methods.

Overall, the prevalence of infertility among couples in Kazakhstan is approximately 15%. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility at this level represents a significant public health concern because of its impact on the country’s demographic indicators.