The Scientific and Clinical Centre of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology became operational at the end of 2007 (formerly known as the Cardiac Surgery Centre), renting a 2-story building in the Turar Ryskulov Sanatorium. The Centre was opened along with the start of the Kazakhstan government program “Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Service Development and Improvement Program for 2007-2009”. Initially, the Centre was organised with the help of a team of specialists from Bishkek. The Centre is headed by Seitkhan Dzhoshibayev, M.D., Professor, academician of the Preventive Medicine Academy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, correspondence member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, who repeatedly performed heart surgeries in various regions of Kazakhstan. The team from Kyrgyzstan consisted of the following employees: Zh.O. Sheishenov – CHD Cardiac Surgeon, A.B. Dzhumanazarov – Cardiac Surgeon, Perfusionist, D.K. Nazarbekov – Anesthesiologist and Intensivist, K.A. Sadykbergenova – head of the clinical and biochemical laboratory, S.A. Tabyshova – chief nurse, B. Iskenbayeva – surgical nurse, perfusionist, Zh. Aliaskarova – anaesthetic nurse.

The distinguished public figures and scientists, such as the Akim of Zhambyl Region B. Zheksenbin and academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan T. Sharmanov spoke at the grand opening of the Centre, which took place on 22 December 2007. Mr. Sharmanov said,

“...Taraz City Cardiac Surgery Centre should become a famous medical centre like Mayo Clinic in the USA.” First Deputy Director for Organizational and Methodological Work - M.D., Professor, doctor of high category

With this opening ceremony our and at that time the only private cardiac surgery centre in Kazakhstan began its development and prosperity history.

Those were difficult times for the Centre... We need to equip and properly arrange the Centre that required a substantial investment, which the Centre did not have. We need to train new personnel in diagnostics, treatment, operations using artificial circulation, anaesthesiology and resuscitation, postoperative care. And above all, it was necessary to gain the trust of the population, local and national institutions, because it was the first cardiac surgery facility in Zhambyl Region that provides highly specialized medical care: surgeries for congenital and acquired heart defects and coronary artery bypass surgeries.

Patients from various regions of the country visit the Centre for consultation and treatment:

Zhambyl,

South-Kazakhstan,

Kyzylorda,

Almaty,

Atyrau,

Aktobe,

Mangystau,

Karaganda regions, and from the neighbouring countries, such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

95% of the patients from Kazakhstan receive medical care free of charge, as part of the state support through the hospitalization portal of guaranteed free medical care (GFMC) paid by the republican budget.