Almaty, 24 October. Kazakhstan's first state laboratory for custom orthoses has opened in Almaty, where they will be made free of charge for children with a medical need, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection said.
Orthoses are external devices that support and fix parts of the body, correct their position and help preserve movement: splints, corsets, joint braces. The laboratory was set up at the National Scientific Centre for the Development of Social Protection. Guests were shown the full cycle of making an orthosis: examination, digital 3D scanning, computer modelling, manufacturing, fitting, adjustment and training in its use. According to the ministry, digital design makes it possible to take each patient's anatomy into account and make the device more precisely.
The main focus will be early orthotic treatment for children with musculoskeletal disorders. The laboratory is to make 500 orthoses in 2026, 1,000 in 2027 and 1,500 in 2028. Besides production, it will serve as a research platform: the results of treatment will be studied and used for methodological recommendations for specialists.
"It is important for us that modern technology helps people directly. That is why the laboratory will be not only a place for making orthoses but also a research and practical platform for developing new solutions and studying their effectiveness," said Askarbek Yertayev, Minister of Labour and Social Protection. He linked the launch to Kazakhstan's Concept of Inclusive Policy for 2025–2030.
What it means: The state now has its own production of custom orthoses using digital technology, working first of all for children who need one early.
Who benefits: Children with musculoskeletal disorders and their families get free devices made to measure. Specialists get data for their methods. The ministry has not said how much the laboratory cost or how many children need orthoses.
Background: The Concept of Inclusive Policy for 2025–2030 sets out how the state is widening access for people with disabilities to services, education and work.
