Kyrgyzstan Reports 554 Infant Deaths in Early 2026; Health Ministry Launches Perinatal Care Reform

Kyrgyzstan reported 554 infant deaths in the first four months of 2026, according to the National Statistical Committee. This figure represents a decrease from the 570 infant deaths recorded during the same period in 2025. The majority of these tragic losses, 66 percent, were attributed to conditions arising in the perinatal period. Congenital malformations were the second leading cause, accounting for 18 percent of deaths, followed by respiratory diseases at 10 percent. In response to these statistics, Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Health has initiated a comprehensive reform of the country's perinatal care system, slated to continue through 2030. Key objectives of this reform include enhancing the monitoring of pregnant women, improving patient referral pathways, updating antenatal care standards with a focus on service quality, and introducing modern prenatal screening technologies. The initiative also aims to establish a genetic laboratory and expand family planning services to better support maternal and infant health.