From phototherapy to cell transplantation: how vitiligo treatment is changing in Kazakhstan

June 30, 2026

From June 25 to 27 in Aktobe, the Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan in partnership with the West Kazakhstan State Medical University named after Marat Ospanov, NGO "Society of Dermatovenerologists, Dermatocosmetologists and Leprologists" held the XIX Republican educational scientific and practical conference "20 regions of dermatovenerologists, dermatocosmetologists and leprologists".

The event was held as part of the continuing medical education program and timed to coincide with World Vitiligo Day. It was attended by more than 280 specialists, scientists and young doctors from all regions of Kazakhstan, as well as Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan.
The conference has been held annually since 2015 and has become a significant platform for professional exchange of experience. It was here that the methods of treating skin diseases were first presented, which later became recognized as advanced. For example, at one of the previous forums, an innovative method of treating vitiligo was presented - narrowband phototherapy, which is now successfully used in practice.
KNCDIZ specialists, together with the Center for Vitiligo and Skin Health, have become leaders in Central Asia in the use of epidermal cell transplantation in the treatment of vitiligo. Such an operation, based on the transplantation of the patient's own healthy skin, is considered one of the most effective in the world in the treatment of patients today.
Thanks to these advanced methods, the incidence of vitiligo in Kazakhstan has decreased by almost 1.2 times over the past six years. To improve the situation in the country for other skin diseases, in accordance with the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the Health of the People and the Healthcare System", six clinical protocols are being updated this year, including syphilis, psoriasis, and scabies.
Good results are demonstrated in medical institutions by specialized offices with related specialists of the dermatovenerological service: podologist, trichologist, dentist. The offices of dermatosurgery, dermatooncology, psychodermatology and the office of sexual health have become in demand among patients.
Educational innovations of recent years are aimed at improving the quality of specialist training. There is a specialized residency program in dermatovenerology based on advanced international standards. The development of a distance learning program for medical professionals on modern aspects of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of STIs and a web portal are at the completion stage. Modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of STIs have been integrated into the curricula of secondary specialized, post-secondary higher, additional and postgraduate medical education.
A school for young specialists with the participation of residents of the KSCDIZ worked at the conference site, where individual clinical cases and disease features were discussed. Within the framework of the event, consultations of patients with vitiligo and chronic severe dermatoses were held, organizational and methodological assistance was provided to specialists of the Aktobe regional Skin and venereological dispensary.

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that manifests itself as discolored spots on the face and body. It affects about 1% of the world's population. The disease does not pose a threat to life and does not cause physical harm, but it often seriously affects the psychoemotional state of patients. The disease can develop at any age, but most often before the age of 20.
Every year, more than 15,000 patients with this diagnosis come to the country's dermatological institutions.

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