Kyrgyzstan Plans Major Overhaul of Regional Hospitals

Kyrgyzstan is embarking on a significant program to upgrade its healthcare facilities, with plans to renovate or rebuild hospitals in about 40 districts across the country. The initiative comes in response to the dire state of many existing medical institutions, as observed by the head of the cabinet, Adylbek Kasymaliev, during his regional tours.

Kasymaliev described the situation as "truly difficult," noting that many hospital buildings are old and lack necessary equipment. The program aims to address these deficiencies by either undertaking major repairs for suitable structures or constructing entirely new hospitals where necessary. The government also intends to update medical equipment, acknowledging that the full scope of improvements may extend into the next year's budget.

In a related development, Kasymaliev detailed the outcomes of an unscheduled visit to the National Center for Oncology. Following complaints about long queues and malfunctioning equipment, the inspection revealed issues such as two doctors working in the same office and essential equipment being idle due to a lack of consumables. Consequently, the center received 64 million soms, with an additional 4 million soms from the cabinet head's fund allocated for immediate supply purchases.

Kasymaliev emphasized that the modernization of healthcare extends beyond building repairs to encompass the equipping of hospitals with contemporary medical technology. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of medical services throughout Kyrgyzstan.