The Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the scientific and practical conference “Photodynamic Therapy: Experience That Shapes the Future”, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Hospital’s Center for Photodynamic Therapy. The event brought together leading national and international experts, scientists, and practicing physicians, providing a platform to discuss the latest achievements, clinical experience, and future prospects for the development of photodynamic therapy.
Over the past ten years, the Center for Photodynamic Therapy of the Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan has become one of the country’s leading scientific and clinical centers, shaping the development of this field. Today, the Center successfully performs intraoperative and endoscopic photodynamic therapy, as well as laser treatment technologies for neoplasms, having provided care to more than 1,500 patients. One of its major milestones was the first intraoperative photodynamic therapy procedure performed in Kazakhstan in 2018, which opened new opportunities for the comprehensive treatment of oncological diseases. Another significant contribution of the Center has been its participation in the development of the first clinical protocol on photodynamic therapy issued by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, followed by its subsequent revision based on current scientific evidence and accumulated clinical experience.
The Center serves not only as a clinical facility but also as a scientific platform. Over the years, its specialists have published 165 scientific papers, delivered 115 presentations, obtained 7 patents and 21 copyright certificates, and authored 5 monographs and 8 methodological manuals. Active international cooperation, participation in international congresses, educational projects, and joint research with foreign colleagues have contributed to strengthening the position of Kazakhstan’s healthcare system on the global stage.
The anniversary conference programme focused on the current capabilities of photodynamic therapy, the results of fundamental and clinical research, prospects for the implementation of new technologies, and the expansion of interdisciplinary collaboration. During the conference, leading national and international experts delivered presentations highlighting the latest scientific developments and practical experience in the application of this treatment modality.
A special place in the history of the Center belongs to Professor Nasrulla Shanazarov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, who stood at the origins of its establishment and development. Thanks to his professional vision and many years of dedicated work, the foundations for the development of photodynamic therapy at the Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan were laid. Symbolically, the Center’s anniversary coincided with the Professor’s retirement. During the conference, sincere words of appreciation were expressed by colleagues, students, and associates from Kazakhstan and abroad. As Professor Nasrulla Abdullayevich retired, the Hospital’s staff expressed their gratitude for his many years of dedicated service, commitment to the profession, and outstanding contribution to the development of Kazakhstan’s healthcare system.
Ten years of the Center for Photodynamic Therapy represent a journey from the introduction of an innovative technology to the establishment of a recognized scientific and clinical school whose expertise is valued both in Kazakhstan and internationally. By continuing to advance scientific research, implement modern treatment methods, and strengthen international cooperation, the Center remains one of the country’s leaders in high-tech medical care and continues to create new opportunities for effective patient treatment.
