Switzerland’s cooperation began after Kyrgyzstan became independent and joined the Swiss-led voting group at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This special relationship was one of the reasons Kyrgyzstan became one of the focal partners for Swiss Cooperation in Central Asia.

During 25 years Switzerland has provided more than CHF 350 million of financial, technical and humanitarian support to Kyrgyzstan in the sectors of health, public institutions, private sector, urban water supply, irrigation, local self-governance and civil society engagement.  Switzerland has also substantially supported the organization of successful parliamentary and local elections in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

“The Kyrgyz Republic is Central Asia’s only parliamentary democracy and since independence has undergone significant changes of its own history and development. The Swiss cooperation is proud to be a development partner and is committed to continue its support to the country. Our bilateral relations are based on values and principles such as solidarity, respect of human rights, and democracy, including the participation of civil society actors. Switzerland as a neutral country is always ready to support dialogue and to strive for peaceful solutions of conflicts. There are many similarities between our countries, and we will continue building our relations on our longstanding trust and friendship”, said the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, René Holenstein.

The Swiss Federal Dispatch on International Cooperation 2017-2020 reflects Switzerland’s continuing and strong commitment to the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. 

The medical clinic was opened by the Osh State University with support of the Swiss side in the frame of the project “Reform of medical education” in Kyrgyzstan - the University funded USD 50’000 and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation sponsored CHF 35’000 including technical support and expertise.

The center will provide opportunities for medical students to gain more clinical skills during their education at the university. It has such departments as “pediatrics”, “therapy”, “surgery”, “obstetrics” and “gynecology” “maternity department”, “reanimation”. The clinical center contains simulation and medical equipment, mannequins of the human parts where students will know about disease symptoms and learn how to treat them.

“Today, the new curriculum on general practitioner specialty is being implemented at the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy and first graduates are expected in June 2018. In September 2016 the Osh State University has started teaching medicine based on new curricula”, said the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, René Holenstein. “This clinical skills center is one of the new learning tools for the medical students created to improve clinical skills and to become experienced doctors in future to save lives of the population”.