During the research conducted by the Akýkatçy Institute at the National Center for Oncology and Hematology, as well as in the pediatric oncology department of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health, serious systemic problems in the organization of oncological care were identified. This monitoring indicated a lack of medicines, equipment, and hospital beds, which negatively impacts patients' rights and the quality of their treatment.
One of the main issues is the lack of opportunities for radiation therapy. In August 2025, 34 patients were forced to wait to begin treatment because two of the three linear accelerators were out of order. Treatment was only carried out on outdated equipment, causing patients to wait from one to two weeks. Doctors warn that such delays can worsen patients' conditions. Linear accelerators are concentrated only in Bishkek, forcing people from other regions to travel to the capital. Even with full utilization of the machines, the center cannot cope with the influx of patients. Over the past five years, only 25.6% of patients with a first-time cancer diagnosis received radiation therapy.
Additionally, during the monitoring, it was found that there are no fixation devices for radiation therapy. The department lacked thermoplastic masks, and some equipment was already worn out. For children, special masks were completely absent, limiting the possibilities for quality treatment.
Medicinal supply also raises serious concerns. The hospital lacked 80 essential drug names, and patients report needing to purchase expensive medications out of their own pockets. The inspection revealed that this is related to delays in deliveries and a lack of procurement by the state enterprise "Kyrgyzpharmacia." To fully supply the oncology service, at least 2.5 billion soms are needed.
The center's infrastructure also faces problems. The hospital is overloaded, with effectively two patients per bed, leading some to receive infusions while sitting. At the time of the inspection, there were 325 patients in the center, while over 35,000 cancer patients are registered. The situation in the regions is not better: in some places, only chemotherapy and simple surgeries are available, and there is not a single oncologist in the Naryn region.
Problems are also observed in diagnostics. The center had only one ultrasound machine and an old mammograph manufactured in 2014. There is a shortage of angiographs, modern endoscopic, and laparoscopic equipment. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to talk about comprehensive early diagnosis under such conditions.
The situation in pediatric oncology is particularly alarming. About 60 children are being treated in hospitals, and the number of new cases has significantly increased: previously, about 70 cases were recorded annually, but in recent years this figure has exceeded 200. Doctors attribute this to both a real increase in incidence and improved diagnostics. However, there are instances of parents refusing treatment due to distrust in medicine, financial difficulties, or turning to alternative methods.
According to the center's data, funding for the oncology service does not meet actual needs. From 2018 to 2024, about 3 million soms were allocated annually, in 2024 the amount increased to 176 million, and in 2025 to 800 million soms. However, about 4.5 billion soms are needed for full operation.
As a result of the monitoring, Akýkatçy Jamilya Jamambaeva sent recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Health, and other organizations. Among the proposed measures are the development of a new strategy for the prevention and control of cancer diseases for 2025–2030, increasing funding, revising drug procurement procedures, allocating funds for equipment maintenance, and enhancing social and psychological support for patients' families. The institute believes that the situation requires urgent and systemic solutions.
