Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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LB: This is the first time the topic of mental health has been included in the title of the High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases. What steps is Kyrgyzstan taking to strengthen its mental health support system?
EC: Yes, indeed, this year, for the first time, the topic of mental health was included in the agenda of a UN high-level meeting. This indicates that the problem is growing globally, and mental health is becoming a priority.
According to the latest data, approximately 11 percent of the population in Kyrgyzstan suffers from some form of mental disorder, ranging from anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies, not to mention addictions such as alcohol, tobacco, and psychoactive substance dependence. Therefore, for the first time in many years, Kyrgyzstan is developing a national strategy specifically on mental health. Historically, in Kyrgyzstan, as in many post-Soviet countries, this issue has been stigmatized.
Seeking help from a psychiatric clinic was once considered an outlier. But now, by integrating these services into primary care, we're trying to bring them as close to the population as possible. We're implementing multidisciplinary teams that include a family physician, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a community nurse.
We're expanding the role of nurses, including psychologists and psychiatrists at the district level, and thus aiming to identify mental health issues early. This brings services closer to the population while reducing stigma. People don't need to go to a psychiatric clinic; they can simply see a regular doctor with a psychologist, and a visiting nurse can identify symptoms early.
We believe it's crucial to bring these services closer to the population. In general, developing primary health care is a priority in the country. This year, hospital construction began in Kyrgyzstan, with more than 30 new clinics and buildings undergoing renovation.
We plan to build a huge multifunctional, multidisciplinary clinic—a medical city—in the capital, with approximately 5,000 beds. Along with strengthening inpatient care, our priority, of course, is primary care, at a family medicine center, and strengthening the role of primary care in the regions.
Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country, with more than 60 percent of the population living in the regions, rural areas, and highlands.
LB: I just wanted to ask how the needs of vulnerable groups – rural populations, women, youth – are taken into account?
EC: Yes, just recently, with the help of our international partners, UNICEF, we conducted a study where we identified vulnerable groups of the population, these are adolescents, women, young women, especially during, before and after pregnancy.
This is the target group we should be focusing our attention on. What's being done? Kyrgyzstan is the only country in the post-Soviet space that has implemented the principle of community engagement. That is, so-called village health committees, made up of active women, have been created at the village level. They are involved in all aspects of preventing non-communicable diseases, including communicable ones. And through these health committees, we educate the population at the regional level.
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As for adolescents, we work closely with the Ministry of Education, introducing programs in schools. For example, early stroke detection. We teach children how to identify strokes in their parents and the first symptoms of stroke.
Of course, we teach children about risk factors, for example, we talk about the dangers of tobacco use and promote a healthy lifestyle.
For women, we adapted an international program for the first time. This is a mobile app for pregnant women, which has been translated into English.
This not only provides advice on early consultation, registration, and antenatal clinics, but also nutritional monitoring and early signs of illness. At the same time, this app allows for monitoring a pregnant woman's mental state, promptly identifying anxiety, neuroses, and more.
We strive to implement digitalization in all areas, including mental health.
LB: How are all these efforts financed? WHO data shows that investments in infectious disease prevention and mental health treatment generally pay off. What funding mechanisms is Kyrgyzstan considering?
EC: Just the day before yesterday, we participated in an extended meeting at the Luxembourg Embassy. I discussed investments in prevention with the health ministers of Luxembourg and Bulgaria.
Yes, indeed, according to many studies, investing in prevention yields a 7-10-fold reinvestment. For every dollar invested, there's a 7-10-dollar return in the form of preserved health of the working-age population, tax revenue, and so on.
But the problem is that we need clearer tools and research to talk to our partners, our colleagues in the government—the ministers of economy and finance—to justify those fiscal measures. They're well-known, they've been proven.
This includes increased taxes on tobacco, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, and trans fats. We're aware of this, and we're explaining to our colleagues, the economy ministers, how such interventions will yield two benefits. First, they mean improved health outcomes.
Secondly, additional budget revenues in the form of taxes and excise duties. Secondly, the redirection of the state budget towards prevention. For the first time this year – through 2026 – we have allocated a 100 percent increase in state budget funding for public health.
Historically, public healthcare has been financed on a residual basis, with 97 percent of the healthcare budget going toward treatment, hospitals, and medications, and 3 percent toward prevention. And those 3 percent haven't increased in any way. And so, for the first time this year, we held talks with the Minister of Finance and justified the importance of prevention.
The President of Kyrgyzstan places special emphasis on increasing life expectancy and quality of life. A clear goal has been set to increase the average life expectancy of Kyrgyz citizens. The President himself is an active advocate of a healthy lifestyle. Sports facilities, football fields, and bike paths are being built throughout the country. Twice a year, we hold a football championship among ministries. And the Ministry of Health was the champion this year. Political support from the leadership, of course, has a significant impact.
I think the budget allocated for prevention will gradually increase, because we all understand that millions and billions can be spent on treatment. But that will never be enough. Increasing the budget for prevention will bring tangible results very quickly.
You know, this year we identified 37 short-term interventions that can produce rapid results. These include economic measures, environmental changes, educational measures, and, of course, legislative changes. All of these measures will yield rapid results. Within three to five years, we can implement these WHO-approved interventions, which will be effective.
LB: What do you expect from the High-Level Meeting?
EC: The very fact that the topic of mental and psychological health was raised at such a high level already makes it a priority. This year, in Kyrgyzstan—even before this meeting—we raised mental health issues.
Psychiatric clinics are in need of renovation. More beds are needed. The number of patients with such problems is growing annually and will continue to do so. WHO forecasts indicate that the incidence of mental disorders will only increase.
In our hectic world today, when people have to make approximately 300-400 decisions a day, this leads to disorders such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. Therefore, we are developing a national strategy for 2030 to develop mental health services to reduce stigma. We are working closely with international partners.
We are adapting all UN recommendations. Multidisciplinary teams are being implemented. Therefore, the expectation is that since the issue of mental health has been raised at the UN General Assembly level, all countries, not just Kyrgyzstan but also the countries of Central Asia, will work closely on it. We are working closely with our neighbors within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Just recently, there was a forum within the EAEU where the topic of migrants' health was raised. You know, about half a million Kyrgyz citizens temporarily travel to neighboring countries, including Russia. Their health, within the EAEU, is a common problem we are working to address together.
Therefore, I hope this issue will be raised within both the EAEU and the SCO. Next year, Kyrgyzstan will welcome our partners both within the SCO and within the Organization of Turkic States. And we will certainly include this topic on the agenda.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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