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, 28.06.2022

Today, on 28 June, the Swiss Ambassador Olivier Bangerter and the Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Kojiro Nakai have signed an agreement on the Swiss contribution to the WFP’s Country Strategic Plan for 2018-2022 (CSP).  

Signing of the agreement on the Swiss contribution © Swiss Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, 2022.

The Government of Switzerland will allocate USD 2,2 million for the WFP CSP pillar aimed at building the resilience of the most vulnerable rural communities against climate change and disaster risks. This component is being implemented by WFP in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The activities within the pillar will cover Osh, Batken and Naryn provinces and support around 50’000 most vulnerable households, as well as targeted local authorities and institutions on the national level to build a systemic approach in managing hazards, such as droughts, mudslides, floods, etc. Reliable and timely climate information, disaster-resilient planning and selected infrastructure support will be provided to the beneficiaries.

Disaster risk management activities will also be strengthened to prepare for climate related hazards and reduce their impact on food and nutrition security. The vulnerable communities will be provided with food and livestock security insurance tools and will be trained on build-back-better mechanisms.

The contribution implementation is foreseen for 1 year.