She noted that in large cities, the situation with the availability of qualified specialists is relatively stable; however, in remote areas, people face difficulties in obtaining the necessary assistance.
According to Zhanibek Azhibekov, acting director of the Republican Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, by the end of 2025, there will be only 136 psychiatrists in the country.
“Fifteen years ago, their number was about 300, and there were 50 narcologists. According to regulations, there should be one psychiatrist for every 40,000 residents. In some areas with a population of 160,000, there is only one doctor working part-time as a psychiatrist and another part-time as a narcologist. He performs many tasks: writes prescriptions, sees patients, participates in medical examinations for the draft board, and so on. In large cities like Bishkek, Osh, and Jalal-Abad, there are large hospitals and two major psychiatric hospitals in Chym-Korgon and Kyzyl-Jar, but even there, there is a shortage of specialists,” he emphasized.
