History and General Information

Beginning in 1987, outpatient therapy departments were established as separate units from departments of internal medicine at all medical institutes across the Soviet Union, with the aim of improving the quality of primary healthcare.

In the 1995–1996 academic year, pursuant to a decision of the Healthcare Committee of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Department of Outpatient Therapy was assigned the responsibility of training family physicians and general practitioners. Accordingly, the Department of Family Medicine and Outpatient Therapy was established for the first time at the University’s Faculty of Medicine (Senate Resolution dated 17 May 1996 and Rector’s Order No. 1-458 dated 14 August 1996).

From the very beginning, the Department was established and headed by N. Tuzelbayev, Doctor of Medical Sciences and Professor. The Department employed Candidates of Medical Sciences, associate professors and experienced physicians with extensive practical expertise. They included Candidates of Medical Sciences and Associate Professors K. Kazbekova, A. Bibolova, A. Anarbayev, A. Ilashev and G. Abuova, as well as assistants F. Berdaliyeva, A. Zhaksybayev (until 2006), B. Baimuratova, U. Kainazarova, Sh. Umeshova (until 2004), and others.

Between the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 academic years, the therapeutically oriented Department of Family Medicine and Outpatient Therapy was merged with the Department of Internal Medicine. The curriculum included internal medicine, outpatient therapy, endocrinology, clinical allergology, physiotherapy, emergency medicine, social medicine, occupational diseases, clinical nutrition, dermatovenereology and management.

The Department’s academic staff included I. Baidaulet, Doctor of Medical Sciences and Professor; Candidates of Medical Sciences and Associate Professors K. Kazbekova, A. Bibolova and R. Bekturganov; K. Sartayeva, Candidate of Medical Sciences and Acting Associate Professor; E. Iskandirova and G. Shagiyeva; as well as Candidates of Medical Sciences N. Bekenov and G. Sultanbekova.

The Department operated as a graduating academic unit. It trained general practitioners and intern physicians in internal medicine in accordance with established professional qualification requirements. Our graduates currently work as physicians in various fields of medicine in Türkiye, Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In the 2012–2013 academic year, the Department was renamed the “Department of General Medical Practice and Emergency Medicine.” Practical classes were conducted in outpatient and primary care, emergency and urgent medical care, emergency medicine, general medical practice, internal medicine within general medical practice, and paediatrics within general medical practice.

In the 2013–2014 academic year, following the transfer of the Emergency Medicine course to another department, the Department was renamed the “Department of General Medical Practice.”

Between 2015 and 2019, the Department was headed by A.A. Sariyeva, Candidate of Medical Sciences; B.K. Zhunisov, Candidate of Medical Sciences; A.Sh. Sadykova, Doctor of Medical Sciences; and K.T. Kulayev, Candidate of Medical Sciences.

In the 2024–2025 academic year, N.Z. Shapambayev, Candidate of Medical Sciences, was appointed Head of the Department.

Today, the Department provides education and training in the 6B10155 “General Medicine” internship programme, the 7R01114 “Radiology” residency programme and the 7R01124 “Adult Oncology” residency programme. The Department currently employs 2 Doctors of Medical Sciences, 1 PhD holder, 8 Candidates of Medical Sciences, 2 senior lecturers and 27 lecturers.