The data shows that there are only 0.26 adult nephrologists per 100,000 population in Kyrgyzstan, while the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 1.0 for developing countries. Thus, the country needs an additional 34 doctors, which means an increase in the number of nephrologists by almost four times.
As for pediatric nephrologists, their availability is 0.3 per 100,000 population, with 16 doctors needed to reach the recommended level of 1.0 — this means an increase of 3.3 times.
The specialists in this field have an average age of 47 years, with 38% of them over 55 years old and 14% under 35 years old.
The shortage of nephrologists is most acute in the Naryn, Batken, Issyk-Kul, and Talas regions, where vacancies remain unfilled or are combined with other specialties.
“The existing staff shortage requires a more targeted approach to the training and retraining of specialists in nephrology. Currently, the training of nephrologists and hemodialysis doctors is conducted at the Kyrgyz State Medical Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training. Of the 19 practicing nephrologists, only five have been trained to treat patients with transplanted kidneys, which is only 30%,” the report notes.
It should be reminded that on February 18, facts about the detention of nephrologist Nasira Beishebayeva became known. The staff of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health appealed to President Sadyr Japarov for a fair and comprehensive investigation of the situation, taking into account all legal norms. On February 19, the doctor was released under house arrest.
According to the capital's Main Internal Affairs Directorate, a citizen, Z.S., filed a complaint about a possible medical error at the NCMMCH. In October 2024, nephrologist N.B. allegedly provided improper treatment while assisting a minor, K.A., born in 2011, which led to the amputation of her right leg. However, according to medical sources, the case was initially extremely complex.
