The competition started in February 2021 among primary health care organizations of Chui, Naryn, Talas and Issyk-Kul provinces to strengthen the work of the Quality Committees, which ensure qualitative primary health care to the population. 

The competition was held by the Ministry of Health in the framework of the Swiss project "Effective Management and Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases in Kyrgyzstan".

In total 28 Family Medicine Centers and Center of General Practice participated in the contest. Based on the results of the competition, 4 Family Medicine Centers and Centers of General Medical Practice will be awarded with the following prizes funded by Switzerland:

• Grand Prize – Niva car for visiting patients;
• 1st place – laptop and 50 tonometers;
• 2nd place – laptop and 30 tonometers;
• 3rd place – laptop and 15 tonometers.

These prizes will be used to improve quality of care in the health facilities. The car will be used for increasing access to the medical services by allowing family doctors to receive patients in remote villages.

The event will be attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Swiss Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund, as well as representatives of primary health care facilities and mass media. 

In Kyrgyzstan, the noncommunicable diseases are the main cause of disability, morbidity, and premature mortality. According to the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic in 2020, cardiovascular diseases were a major reason of mortality, making up 52% of all death cases in the country, while cancer occupied second place (10.8%) followed by respiratory diseases (6.9%). Unhealthy diet (in particular, high salt intake, insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables), tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and lack of physical activity are the most common preventable risk factors for noncommunicable diseases. 

Since 2018, the Swiss project called "Effective Management and Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases in Kyrgyzstan" has been strengthening the primary health care system and promoting healthier lifestyle of people. To continue this support in Kyrgyzstan, the Swiss Government has allocated additional funding for more than CHF 5 million to phase II of the project. 

With the continued support of the Ministry of Health the work will be implemented by a consortium of organizations composed of Public Association "Healthy Future" (Kyrgyzstan), "GFA Consulting Group GmbH" (Germany), and "Euro Health Group" (Denmark).

During 4 years, the project will be covering Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken regions of Kyrgyzstan as well as Osh and Bishkek cities.