Kyrgyzstan’s hospitals are struggling with a shortage of medical staff, with an estimated need for around 5,000 more doctors nationwide, according to Deputy Health Minister Kaarmanbek Baidavletov. He shared these figures during a Jogorku Kenesh meeting, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Health is negotiating with the president’s regional representatives to develop solutions. In some districts, local authorities are helping young specialists by taking over utility payments to ease doctors’ working conditions.
Baidavletov said there should be one doctor for every 1,500 people, but more staff is needed in remote regions and central hospitals.
Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare system faces several serious challenges. One key problem is the need for more medical personnel, especially in remote regions that lack hematology, neonatology, and pediatrics specialists.
In addition, the country has a high incidence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, especially among women. The Women’s Health initiative has been launched to enhance awareness and early diagnosis of these diseases.
Another initiative focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which the WHO supports. This program provides diagnostic tools and training for medical staff and assesses the prevalence of AMR in Kyrgyzstan to improve clinical protocols and policies in this area.
