On January 16, the Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan, Kanibek Dosmambetov, met with the Ambassador of Turkey to the Kyrgyz Republic, Mekin Mustafa Kemal Okem. The meeting discussed areas of cooperation in healthcare, including mechanisms for sending Kyrgyz citizens for treatment in Turkey on a gratuitous basis, the development of medical infrastructure, personnel training, and pharmaceutical collaboration.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the Turkish side for their support and active participation in medical cooperation, noting the strategic importance of interaction with Turkey.
“On behalf of our ministry, I would like to thank Turkey for its active participation and support. This is a friendly country and a reliable partner in the field of medicine. We are interested in expanding cooperation, especially regarding gratuitous treatment for citizens, improving the qualifications of specialists, and joint projects. Following the instruction of President Sadyr Japarov, a large-scale modernization of healthcare is being implemented in Kyrgyzstan, and we are open to new technologies and models,” noted Dosmambetov.
The Turkish Ambassador confirmed the intention to continue cooperation, including conducting organ transplant surgeries at the Kyrgyz-Turkish hospital named after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, organizing internships for Kyrgyz specialists for periods of 3 to 6 months, and joint educational and pharmaceutical projects, as well as the effective use of quotas for treating Kyrgyz citizens in Turkish clinics.
As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to activate the direction of Kyrgyz citizens for treatment in Turkey within the framework of annual quotas, ensuring the effective use of 150 places: 100 of which are provided through the Turkish embassy in Kyrgyzstan, and 50 through the Ministry of Health of the country.
Attention was also given to personnel training; the Kyrgyz side expressed interest in internships not only for transplantologists but also for specialists in oncology and cardiac surgery. The possibilities of joint pharmaceutical production and technical assistance were discussed.
Minister Dosmambetov also expressed interest in studying the operation of multidisciplinary medical institutions in Turkey for the subsequent application of successful practices in Kyrgyzstan. He noted that work is currently underway to build a medical town, which requires studying modern approaches to design and management.
The Minister emphasized that President S. Japarov attaches particular importance to the development of the healthcare system, supports the modernization of infrastructure, the introduction of new technologies, and the expansion of international cooperation, which creates conditions for systemic changes.
The meeting concluded with an agreement on further steps to deepen Kyrgyz-Turkish cooperation at a systemic level.
