Stroke Treatment More Accessible for Patients in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is enhancing stroke treatment accessibility and quality for patients as part of a national strategy to combat cardiovascular diseases, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has focused on improving stroke services by approving regulatory documents that define the operations of stroke centers, patient pathways, and standard operating procedures.

Systemic thrombolytic therapy has been introduced in state healthcare facilities, and mechanical thrombectomy, a modern treatment method, continues to be employed. Kyrgyzstan's ongoing involvement in the international RES-Q registry allows for the assessment of stroke care quality and the tracking of key treatment indicators.

Data from the RES-Q registry reveals a significant uptick in treatment. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 227 patients received stroke treatment in the country's stroke centers. Over 92 percent of these patients underwent neuroimaging, a critical step for timely diagnosis and treatment planning. Notably, 12.3 percent of patients received thrombolytic therapy, a substantial increase from just seven patients during the same period in 2025. This marks the highest rate of thrombolytic therapy administration since Kyrgyzstan joined the registry.

Currently, thrombolytic therapy is available in 10 stroke centers across Kyrgyzstan, indicating a broader reach of advanced stroke treatments in various regions. Doctors note that only 7-15 percent of ischemic stroke cases require thrombolysis, emphasizing the importance of timely arrival at the hospital within four and a half hours of symptom onset for eligible patients.