Kazakhstanis are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence with health-related questions. According to the STADA Health Report 2026, 71% of survey participants in the country do so. Across the 20 countries surveyed, the average stands at 55%.
At the same time, Kazakhstan ranked first in readiness to consider medical consultations with AI: 74% of respondents are open to such a possibility in at least certain situations. This is a distinct metric reflecting readiness to utilize such consultations, rather than the proportion of people who have already substituted a doctor with a chatbot.
The same survey highlighted another challenge: 41% of Kazakh respondents resort to self-treatment to avoid waiting for a doctor’s appointment. Additionally, 15% reported encountering negative consequences from self-medication. The study does not establish that these adverse outcomes are linked to AI usage.
Why Kazakhstanis Turn to AI
Most commonly, artificial intelligence is used to make sense of medical information. According to published findings, 32% of Kazakh respondents utilize it to better understand a diagnosed condition, and 31% use it to obtain recommendations on prevention, nutrition, lifestyle, and physical activity.
Another 24% turn to AI for a second opinion following a doctor’s consultation, while 20% consult it to understand symptoms prior to an in-person medical visit. These scenarios demonstrate that leveraging technology often complements visits to healthcare specialists.
AI adoption spans generations. Among participants under 35 years old, usage reaches 79%; in the 35 to 54 cohort, it stands at 71%; and among those over 55, it is 61%.
In the international report, Kazakhstan is among the top three nations for health-related AI usage, trailing only Romania and Serbia at 74% each. Kazakhstan’s leadership specifically lies in the willingness to consider AI-led consultations rather than the absolute level of current usage.
Why People Self-Medicate
Survey findings show that 94% of Kazakh participants consider self-treatment acceptable in specific situations. The most prevalent reason cited is previous experience: 54% believe they already know which medications or remedies help with mild ailments.
Waiting times for medical appointments were cited as a driving factor by 41% of respondents. Another 28% pointed to an inability to pay regularly for healthcare services. Meanwhile, 15% reported negative consequences resulting from self-treatment.
Healthcare accessibility issues emerged across other responses as well: 59% cited a shortage of medical specialists and long waiting times as primary barriers.
These figures cannot simply be summarized as “Kazakhstanis self-medicate based on AI advice and experience complications.” The survey maps distinct behaviors and perceptions. The published data does not indicate what proportion of those experiencing adverse effects used AI, or what role it played in their health choices.
Openness to AI Does Not Mean Abandoning Doctors
Despite strong enthusiasm for technology, 74% of Kazakh respondents continue to prefer in-person doctor visits. Furthermore, 51% would like AI to assist doctors in refining individualized treatment plans. Only 7% express willingness to entrust the formulation of such plans entirely to AI.
The STADA Health Report 2026 is based on an online survey conducted by Human8 in February–March 2026. Samples in each country were balanced across age, gender, and geographic region. The research reflects subjective responses regarding personal health habits and perceptions; it does not measure the diagnostic accuracy of AI or clinical efficacy.
