The Swiss Health Facilities Autonomy project presented results of its work at the closing ceremony on September 27, 2024, in Bishkek.
This event brought together national partners involved in the implementation of the project, as well as international donors to summarize the results of the project.
The Swiss Health Facilities Autonomy project was initiated by the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic to improve efficiency and quality of care by promoting autonomous management of health facilities, as well as improving the competence of health managers.
The project started in 2015 in three pilot districts in Issyk-Kul oblast, where health facilities were reorganized that improved quality of health services to the population. The second phase, started in August 2020, modernized health management system of the country by ensuring competency development and competition-based appointment of health managers.
One of the significant achievements was the creation of the Association of Health Managers of the Kyrgyz Republic to inspire and mobilize the leaders to form a strong union of health managers.
“Ensuring the effectiveness of the health care, improving the efficiency of health care delivery cannot be achieved without creating a sustainable system of strengthening the health management and leadership” – said Mederbek Ismailov, the First Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, Dr. Olivier Bangerter also emphasized that “Modern result-based management can only be ensured through the adequate training of leaders for the health system”.
Since 2015 Switzerland has granted more than CHF 7 million (more than USD 8 million) for implementation the Health Facilities Autonomy project. Over 25 years, Switzerland has invested more than CHF 80 million to strengthen the health sector of Kyrgyzstan.