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, 22.07.2022

On July 26, 2022,  winners of the competition "Best Quality Committee of primary health care facilities" will be awarded at the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Medical workers in Kyrgyzstan © Swiss Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, 2022.

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.