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, 28.10.2022

On October 27, the opening ceremony of the Altyn Balalyk kindergarten in Issyk-Ata rayon of Chui province took place following its retrofitting.

Opening ceremony of the kindergarten in Issyk-Ata rayon, Kyrgyzstan © Swiss Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, 2022.

The Swiss Ambassador Olivier Bangerter, the Country Manager of the World Bank Naveed Hassan Naqvi, the Executive Director of the Community Development and Investment Agency (АRIS) Mars Naspekov and other participants inaugurated the renovated kindergarten. 

The facility has been renovated in the frame of the “Heat Supply Improvement Project" implemented by ARIS and financed by the International Development Association and the Government of Switzerland.

To improve energy efficiency in the building, the following construction and installation works were carried out: thermal insulation was done, seismic stability reinforced, old windows and doors replaced with energy-efficient ones, heating system upgraded and electrical ceramic radiators installed, electrical wiring replaced, energy-efficient LED lamps installed, ventilation system improved and recuperators installed.

Main efficiency gain of the performed activities is a 40% decrease in the electricity consumption and higher level of comfort for 170 children and personnel of the facility. 

The project intends to demonstrate benefits of the energy efficiency in 21 municipal public buildings in all oblasts of the country leading to essential electricity savings - up to 40% per building, implying more efficient use of energy resources and reduction of the heating costs.