These cars are granted in the context of the project “Health Facilities Autonomy” supported by the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and financed by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The “Health Facilities Autonomy” project is a contribution to the national programme "Den Sooluk". It aims to improve the access of rural population to the services of family practitioners and to enhance the effectiveness and quality of health care delivery by increasing the autonomy of health care organizations. The project also implements initiatives for efficient use of infrastructure, financial, personnel and logistical resources. It has been on-going since 2015 in the pilot rayons of the Issyk-kul oblast such as Ton, Jeti Oguz and Tyup rayons.

In these rayons, more than twenty “family group practitioners” provide primary health care services to the population. The project helped to establish a system of regular visits to the villages by doctors. The cars financed by the Swiss government will help “family group practitioners” to reach remote areas.  The cars will also improve transportation of patients in case of emergency and transportation of biomaterials for laboratory tests.

Switzerland’s cooperation began after Kyrgyzstan became independent and joined the Swiss-led voting group at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This special relationship was one of the reasons Kyrgyzstan became one of the focal partners for Swiss Cooperation in Central Asia.

During 25 years Switzerland has provided more than CHF 350 million of financial, technical and humanitarian support to Kyrgyzstan in the sectors of health, public institutions, private sector, urban water supply, irrigation, local self-governance and civil society engagement.  Switzerland has also substantially supported the organization of successful parliamentary and local elections in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

“The Kyrgyz Republic is Central Asia’s only parliamentary democracy and since independence has undergone significant changes of its own history and development. The Swiss cooperation is proud to be a development partner and is committed to continue its support to the country. Our bilateral relations are based on values and principles such as solidarity, respect of human rights, and democracy, including the participation of civil society actors. Switzerland as a neutral country is always ready to support dialogue and to strive for peaceful solutions of conflicts. There are many similarities between our countries, and we will continue building our relations on our longstanding trust and friendship”, said the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, René Holenstein.

The Swiss Federal Dispatch on International Cooperation 2017-2020 reflects Switzerland’s continuing and strong commitment to the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia.