The Government of Switzerland and the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic have launched a CHF 4.6 million (around 297 million soms) new project “Health Facilities’ Autonomy in Kyrgyzstan” in three pilot rayons - Ton, Tyup and Jety-Oguz of the Issyk-Kul oblast in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The launching of the project including a round table with project beneficiaries took place at the end of February 2015 in Karakol. Representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic, health facilities of the Issyk-Kul oblast and the project team participated in the event to discuss project interventions.

The Head of the Ministry of Health department Mr. Ismailov Meder said: “The “Health Facilities’ Autonomy” project in Kyrgyzstan initiated to address one of the main barriers in implementing the health reform program “Den Sooluk”. Currently autonomy is lacking in health facilities in particular in effective financial and human resources management. During this phase elements of autonomous management will be tested and in 4 year time after evaluation of the results will allow to introduce decentralized management of the health facilities countrywide”.

The Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Remy Duiven said: “The goal of the project is to promote and facilitate the achievement of greater efficiency and quality in health care delivery by developing, piloting and rolling out a model of health facilities’ autonomy. The project will also contribute to attaining the strategic objective of the “Den Sooluk” reform program in health care area to improve population’s health through providing effective health services and improving health outcomes”.

 

The project activities will focus on health care organization and system management. Also high attention will be paid to qualitative medical services, hygiene, information systems, human resources, infrastructure, equipment and many other things.

The Swiss funded project will be implemented by a Consortium of organizations composed of GFA Consulting Group GmbH, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and VEK Consulting Ltd. It will run for 4 years in the Issyk-Kul oblast, with a view to be scaled up to other oblasts of Kyrgyzstan.