The epidemiology of offences against health is a subject of debate in developed nations but it is poorly studied in former socialist economies, to which the countries of Central Asia belong. This study investigated the epidemiology of medical errors and associated compensation payments, pre-trial settlements and court hearings in the Republic of Kazakhstan over a period of five years (2015-2019). We performed the analysis of nationwide data on offences against health and associated mortality. There was a decrease in the rate of offences against health from 4,024 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 2,533 per 100,000 population in 2019. Likewise, the mortality rate from offences against health has gradually declined. Over the study period there were significant variations in the numbers of adverse events, compensation payments, patient victims and health care providers involved. Understanding the scope of unsafe care in Kazakhstan and solutions to be adopted is critical for delivering safe and effective medical care to the country's citizens. Decisions made on the safety of medical services should be evidence-based. It is necessary to construct a State program focused on monitoring of medical errors and their consequences in order to protect patients and strengthen legal protection of health care workers.
Keywords: Republic of Kazakhstan; adverse event; compensation payment; medical error; offences against health.