Improving health care

The under-five child mortality rate in Kyrgyzstan is continuing to decline. According to the 2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), child mortality fell from 20 to 16.5 per 1,000 live births over the previous five years. However, mortality rates remain higher in rural areas than in urban ones. Maternal education and household income are significant factors, with poorer families experiencing higher child mortality rates.

Neonatal mortality, or death within the first month of life, accounts for more than half of all under-five deaths. Reducing these deaths, particularly among preterm and low-birth-weight infants, will require additional efforts.

Trends in different parts of the country are uneven. For instance, in Jalal-Abad oblast, neonatal mortality fell from 29 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 5 in 2023, infant mortality from 35 to 15, and under-five mortality from 39 to 15.

Alongside these reductions, there has been a notable increase in post-neonatal care coverage. The proportion of newborns visited at home within 3-6 days after birth rose from 30.3 per cent in 2018 to 50.2 per cent in 2023, with coverage for the poorest families jumping from 24.2 per cent to 51.6 per cent. 

Despite these positive changes, only half of newborns are receiving crucial post neonatal home visit service.

Due to limited progress in promoting healthy lifestyle and well-being for youth and adolescents’ mental health remains a concern, particularly in rural areas, where higher rates of depression and anxiety are reported. According to the latest available data, suicide rates among children, teenagers, and young adults decreased from 9.2 per 100,000 in 2007 to 6.3 per 100,000 in 2017, which is still a serious concern.

Primary health care in Kyrgyzstan faces significant challenges, particularly in children's health. Limited access to services in remote areas means many children experience delays in receiving essential care, impacting early diagnosis and treatment of preventable diseases. 

A shortage of medical supplies and trained staff, along with underfunding, further weakens the system. Additionally, the absence of efficient health information systems hampers effective monitoring of key issues like malnutrition and immunisation. These obstacles highlight the need for better infrastructure and investment to ensure all children receive the care they need.

As of December 2021, national statistics recorded 725 children living with HIV. However, Kyrgyzstan is making strides toward eliminating vertical transmission of HIV through mandatory testing for pregnant women, early initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and the integration of HIV services into perinatal care.

Despite these improvements, gaps remain in health-care delivery. Health managers and providers often lack the necessary skills to deliver quality care to sick children and those with developmental delays. Access to health care is further hindered by the outflow of health-care workers due to low pay, poor infrastructure, lack of essential equipment, high out-of-pocket costs, and the high price of medications.