Access to quality and affordable health services is a basic human right. Health is a priority of the Swiss cooperation in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Over the years, joint efforts of development partners, including SDC, and of the Kyrgyz government contributed to significant progress in reducing under-5 mortality from 65.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 21.1 in 2016, thus reaching MDG 4. Improvements in early detection and treatment of tuberculosis have been dramatic over the past decade, and the prevalence of tuberculosis was halved between 2000 and 2012. Thanks to Swiss-funded projects, the awareness of the population concerning the main factors relating to non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and hypertension) increased and health facilities perform better in term of waste management and reduction of hospital-acquired infections for instance. Swiss support to the reform of medical education contributed to improve the quality of newly trained family doctors and nurses and to reduce the shortage of family doctors in rural areas.

Yet, there are still significant challenges, notably in ensuring access to good quality services countrywide. With a view to further improve quality of services, reduce inequities in health outcomes and financial protection, and strengthen public health, the Kyrgyz government adopted a new health sector strategy 2030. The Swiss cooperation will continue to support the Kyrgyz authorities in implementing the health sector reforms, with a focus on improving the primary health care system.