The Swiss project “Medical Education Reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic” presented the results achieved over the last 10 years at the conference dedicated to its finalization on November 12, 2024 in Bishkek.
Local and international partners and donors at the conference discussed the achievements of the project and also future perspectives and sustainability of the results that have been achieved.
Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic Kaarmanbek Baidavletov emphasized the importance of the project achievements for the betterment of the medical services by saying that “The changes achieved within the framework of medical education reforms are extremely important for providing Kyrgyz citizens with quality and accessible health care services.”
Dr. Olivier Bangerter, the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, also pointed out in his speech that “I am proud of the good results of the medical and nursing education reforms in Kyrgyzstan that were supported by Switzerland. Quality medical and nursing education is essential to prepare well-trained health professionals for the country.”
Over the years, many achievements were reached: changing processes and legislation; strengthening the governance of medical education; implementing new curricula and approaches; developing the role of Professional Medical Associations; introducing the independent assessment of healthcare professional’s competencies and building the foundations for the nursing education reforms.
The Swiss Medical Education Reforms Project (MER Project) was initiated at the request of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic based on the Den Sooluk National Health Reforms Program (2011-2018) to improve the quality of newly trained doctors in order to respond better to the health needs of the Kyrgyz population.
The collaboration initially started in 2007 focusing on Undergraduate medical education with a special focus on family medicine. Recognizing the need to extend these reforms, in 2014, the MER project was launched and included activities for Pre-, Postgraduate, and Continuing Medical Education reforms as well. In its second phase (2017 to 2021), a new element to the project was introduced – the nursing education reform. The third phase (2021-2024) focused on the reinforcement of professional medical associations, the implementation of the nursing education reform and the development of the independent center for competencies assessment.
Since 2007 Switzerland has granted more than CHF 10 million (more than USD 12 million) for implementation of the MER project in Kyrgyzstan. Over 25 years, Switzerland has invested more than CHF 80 million to strengthen the health sector of Kyrgyzstan.
For more details on the event, please contact Gulzat Orozalieva, tel.: (0552) 701082, (0312) 398296, email: merprjct@gmail.com