The idea was presented at a health committee meeting while discussing the epidemiological situation regarding hepatitis. Deputy Nurjamal Torobekova pointed out the importance of mandatory examinations to prevent the transmission of infections between spouses. As an example, she cited the experience of Uzbekistan, where couples undergo tests for HIV and hepatitis before registering their marriage.
The deputy noted that many cases of infection occur due to migration, when men return home and may not disclose their diagnosis. This can lead to the transmission of infections to their spouses. Mandatory examinations, in her opinion, could help avoid such situations.
Guliza Akmatsiyaeva, a lawyer, supported this initiative, as she has experience working with Kyrgyz citizens who received serious diagnoses in Russia.
She noted to 24.kg that many migrants do not acknowledge their diagnoses, leading to an increase in cases of HIV and syphilis.
Photo from personal archive. Guliza Akmatsiyaeva
“I have long spoken about the necessity of medical examinations before marriage. This is not an unconditional measure. Migrants should undergo tests, as is done in Russia. Kyrgyzstan needs modern laboratories,” she emphasized.
Feruza Amadalieva, an expert with experience working with people living with HIV, also expressed her support for this initiative. She believes that mandatory examinations are an important step in protecting the health of future families.
In her opinion, many diseases in Kyrgyzstan are identified at late stages, when people only seek medical help upon the appearance of symptoms. Pre-marital examinations could help identify infections and risks.
“The idea of pre-marital medical examinations is not new. It is applied in various countries, including Central Asia and Eastern Europe, as a preventive measure. Here, young couples only undergo tests before pregnancy, when problems are already more difficult to rectify,” she added.
Nevertheless, Feruza Amadalieva expresses concerns that in the context of Kyrgyzstan, where family ties are strong, the results of tests could become a source of social pressure. In traditional society, such information could become known to all relatives, which could negatively affect women, who often become victims of accusations regarding fertility or genetic issues.
The main goal of the initiative is not to control personal lives, but to protect families. The success of this idea depends not on the tests themselves, but on ensuring anonymity and medical explanations without judgment.
Feruza Amadalieva
Beremet Baryktabasova, a public health expert, expressed skepticism regarding this initiative, pointing out possible risks that may not be taken into account.
According to her, any coercive measures raise concerns, as they restrict human rights. She believes it would be more appropriate to conduct mandatory information and counseling rather than coercion to undergo examinations.
“Testing for HIV and hepatitis at Health Centers is not complicated. It would be beneficial for the state to allocate funds for examinations now rather than spend significantly more on treatment later. Testing should be accessible to everyone, regardless of marital status,” she added.
Like Feruza Amadalieva, Beremet Baryktabasova warns against possible discrimination and stigmatization. In small communities, news of an unfavorable test result can damage a couple's reputation, leading to negative consequences.
Despite the mandatory medical confidentiality, there is a risk of personal data leakage, which could lead to social pressure and an effective ban on marriage.
The genetic aspects of this initiative were not discussed; however, experts emphasize the importance of questions regarding congenital diseases. Beremet Baryktabasova noted that the prevention of congenital pathologies in Kyrgyzstan mainly begins in the antenatal period, when deviations are already identified.
Experts believe that examinations are particularly important for couples with consanguineous relationships, which is often the case in the southern part of the country. If both spouses are carriers of a recessive gene, the risk of giving birth to a sick child significantly increases. Treatment for such diseases is extremely costly.
It is also worth noting that the question of the healthcare system's readiness for mass genetic testing remains open.
Basic genetic tests are highly expensive, making them inaccessible for mass application, especially in conditions of insufficient provision of basic medical services.
The Ministry of Health, in a comment to 24.kg, stated the feasibility of developing the practice of voluntary counseling and examinations aimed at informing citizens about their health status. The department also emphasized that the mandatory nature of such examinations requires additional legal development.
This is not the first time the issue of mandatory medical examinations before marriage has been raised in Kyrgyzstan — similar proposals were made in 2018, but they did not gain support at that time.
Currently, Article 16 of the Family Code guarantees the voluntary and confidential nature of examinations, leaving the right to disclose a diagnosis to the patient.
Article 16. Medical examination of persons entering into marriage
1. Medical examination of persons entering into marriage, counseling on medical-genetic issues, and family planning are conducted by healthcare institutions at their place of residence free of charge and only with the consent of the persons entering into marriage.
2. The results of the examination of a person entering into marriage constitute medical confidentiality and can be communicated to the person with whom they intend to marry only with the consent of the person who underwent the examination.
3. If one of the persons entering into marriage concealed from the other the presence of a venereal disease or HIV infection, the latter has the right to go to court with a request to declare the marriage invalid.
