Switzerland to support health reforms in Kyrgyzstan

Local news, 28.01.2022

On 28 January, 2022, the National Forum gathered more than 100 health facility managers from all provinces of Kyrgyzstan (also online) to find solutions to existing problems in the health system for better medical care to the population of the country.

National forum for health facility managers © Swiss Embassy Bishkek, 2022

Health facilities managers are responsible for management and coordination in health facilities; ultimately, they ensure quality health services to people. Unfortunately, the health system of the country lacks skilled managers. To improve this situation, the Ministry of Health designed the Vision on the Health Management System together with the Swiss Embassy.

Main implementing partners of this vision are the Association of Health Managers and the Center for Health System Development and Medical Technologies. They established the Health Managers Forum for a better exchange of experience among peers in applying new approaches in health management. The Swiss Health Management Strengthening Project is providing technical and financial support for all these initiatives.

“The National Forum is an important new platform for discussing health management problems and for developing joint solutions”, said Toktobai Maanayev, Chairperson of the Association of Health Managers’ Board. “This forum became the next step towards improving the health management system. The competence and professionalism of managers is the most important condition to improve medical care”.

“It is a first time that health facility managers across Kyrgyzstan gather together as members of the Association of Health Managers. I am very excited to be part of the Association and participate in its work that can boost the health reform process in the country”, said Talantbek Arstankulov, Director of the Osh oblast clinical hospital.

“For my personal experience of working in a hospital at the start of my career, I have experienced first-hand that health managers are critical to the success. I am very proud that Switzerland can support the Ministry of Health and leaders of hospitals and clinics in this”, said Ambassador Olivier Bangerter.

The National forum for health facility managers is planned to be held regularly.

Local news, 07.03.2022

On 7 March, a high level delegation from Switzerland will arrive in Bishkek to strengthen cooperation ties with the Kyrgyz Republic and familiarize with the results of the Swiss funded projects implemented in Kyrgyzstan. 

Flags of Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan © Swiss Embassy Bishkek, 2022

The Swiss Government will be represented by Ambassador Ms. Patricia Danzi, Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Ambassador Mr. Dominique Paravicini, Head of the Economic Cooperation and Development Division and Delegate of the Federal Council for Trade Agreements at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The goal of this visit is to know more about the challenges Kyrgyzstan faces today.

The Swiss delegation will meet representatives of the Kyrgyz government to discuss development and economic cooperation issues as well as bilateral trade and investments. They will also meet representatives of the business sector, international organizations and civil society. 

Ms. Danzi and Mr. Paravicini will visit Swiss funded development projects in various areas of Chui oblast, in particular in the sectors of water, tourism, health and local governance, and learn from citizens who benefitted from these projects how the Swiss support helped to improve the quality of their life. Both ambassadors will also learn more about the Kyrgyz culture and visit the capital city.