Healthcare - The Times Of Central Asia

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Education

South Korea to Support Health and Nutrition in Kyrgyz Schools

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education, has launched a new initiative aimed at improving health and nutrition in schools by incorporating locally produced agricultural products into school meals. According to KOICA’s Kyrgyzstan office, the project will directly benefit approximately 16,000 students and local farmers across the regions of Osh, Jalal-Abad, Chui, Naryn, and Batken. The project aims to enhance children’s health through fortified school meals, upgraded school infrastructure, and capacity-building programs for school personnel. With a total budget of $10 million, the program will run until 2028. It will support the renovation of kitchens and dining areas, the construction of toilets, the installation of handwashing stations, and the delivery of educational programs on healthy eating, meal procurement, health, and hygiene in approximately 40 schools. In addition, the project includes training for local agricultural cooperatives on crop cultivation, post-harvest handling, and operational management, alongside the development of model farms. A key component of the initiative is expanding access to clean water and ensuring that hygiene and sanitation services are adequate, inclusive, and gender-sensitive. This is not KOICA’s first investment in Kyrgyzstan’s development. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported on a separate $10 million project launched by KOICA to improve air quality in the country, with a particular focus on Bishkek.

Technology

ArtSkin: Prosthetics with a Sense of Touch from Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz startup ecosystem is still in its nascent stages and can’t boast an endless number of founders pursuing their dreams. But those focused on building hardware startups, which is generally significantly more challenging, are even a rarer breed. Despite all of that, there is an ambitious attempt to build artificial skin for prosthetics. Meet ArtSkin. Not like a human hand “Since childhood, I was mad about science and tech, and the first big thing that I made was a prototype of the first airplane by the Wright brothers. I dropped it from the second floor, and it was crushed after flying four meters. Later, when I was twelve, I saw a TV program about robot battles, and it was crazy! Since then, I have wanted to be able to make any kind of robots, and my dream has come true,” says Iliias Dzheentaev’s biography on LinkedIn. Dzheentaev is the CEO and Founder of ArtSkin. ArtSkin is a hardware startup from Kyrgyzstan that develops artificial skin for prosthetic limbs. It was launched by Dzheentaev in 2024. Before that, he spent three years studying how human skin, the nervous system, and receptors work to understand how to design a device allowing proper touch sensations. The process was time-consuming and challenging due to the lack of relevant information. “My initial prototype was a robotic arm manipulator. I encountered a challenge with grasping flexible objects – figuring out how to make the robot recognize when its claw had squeezed tightly enough to hold the object securely. To solve this, I developed a mechanism that overcomes the resistance of different materials, enabling the robot to firmly grasp objects of various shapes, textures, and densities. Although the mechanism was simple, it made me realize how important this problem is for robotics. This insight then led me to thinking about people who use prosthetics and whether they actually feel anything when wearing them”, Dzheentaev tells The Times of Central Asia. He was not happy with the contemporary prosthetic solutions – basic body-powered mechanical prosthetics rely on physical motions, and more advanced bionic prosthetics translate electrical signals generated by muscle activity into movements, both of which lack feedback. And without the latter, control is incomplete, while with a human hand, one can easily understand its position as well as feel touch and pressure. With this in mind, Dzheentaev built his prototype with a single sensor to test the device on himself. First steps Things got serious when Dzheentaev visited the High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic (HTP), where he was inspired by other founders pitching and raising funds for their startups. At the time, unfamiliar with this environment, Dzheentaev was using his salary to buy electronic components, order materials, and do designs. Not long after, Dzheentaev took part in HTP’s two programs: Dive into Silicon Valley and Unicorn from KG. The finalists for the first one were selected in February 2024. Dive into Silicon Valley in an entry-level incubation program, which sends founders to spend two...

Healthcare

Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates Continue to Decline in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's Health Minister Akmaral Alnazaraeva has announced further reductions in maternal and infant mortality rates, although some regions are showing a troubling reversal of the trend. Speaking at a recent government meeting, Alnazaraeva attributed the improvements to the adoption of recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. In 2024, maternal mortality declined by 12 percent to 10.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, while infant mortality dropped by 11 percent to 6.88 deaths per 1,000 live births. The positive trend continued into the first half of 2025, with maternal mortality falling by another 10 percent and infant mortality by 26 percent. The minister noted that clinical protocols in obstetrics and pediatrics have been revised nationwide. Since June 2024, tariffs for obstetric and pediatric services, including childbirth, surgeries, and neonatal care, have been increased. These changes have improved access to expensive medications, reduced the debt burden of medical institutions, and helped attract qualified specialists to the sector. The Health Ministry also highlighted the expanded role of air ambulance services, which have saved 96 percent of women in labor and their newborns in remote areas. In 2025, for the first time, medications for pregnant women with conditions such as pyelonephritis, diabetes, and hypertension were added to the list of free drugs. To improve rural maternal care, "Salaawatty Ana" (Healthy Mother) boarding houses have opened in Turkestan, East Kazakhstan, and Akmola regions. These facilities offer pre-hospital care and postnatal rehabilitation for women with complicated births, with their effectiveness monitored in real time by regional situation centers. Kazakhstan is also making strides in healthcare digitalization. The electronic child health passport, now mandatory for kindergarten and school enrollment, has been introduced nationwide. A monitoring system for early detection of pediatric health problems has been deployed, and a digital health profile is being developed for every child under 18. Despite overall national progress, the minister acknowledged rising maternal mortality in Akmola, Zhambyl, Aktobe, Kostanay, Zhetysu, and Abai regions. Infant mortality has also increased in Kostanay, West Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, Abai, and Zhetysu. The situation is most severe in Akmola, where maternal mortality is seven times the national average. Key factors include severe extragenital conditions, obstetric complications, congenital malformations, and neonatal respiratory disorders. In response, stricter regulatory oversight will be introduced starting in September 2025. The Medical and Pharmaceutical Control Committee will be granted new powers to suspend the licenses of medical facilities and dismiss uncertified personnel. Qualification standards will be raised, and patient support services will be expanded. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan continues to experience a steady decline in birth rates despite government efforts to encourage demographic growth.

Healthcare

Kazakhstan to Increase Penalties for Attacks on Medical Workers

Kazakhstan is preparing legislative amendments that will significantly increase criminal liability for violence against medical personnel, equating such offenses with attacks on law enforcement officers. The initiative follows a directive from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who urged the government to take stronger action to protect medical staff amid a growing number of violent incidents. At a recent meeting, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reviewed proposals presented by Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova. The Ministry of Health is drafting legislation that would classify attacks on healthcare workers in the same legal category as assaults on police officers. Proposed measures also include equipping staff with smart video badges, installing comprehensive security systems in hospitals, and deploying permanent police posts in emergency departments. Under the current Criminal Code, an attack on a law enforcement officer is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 15 years with property confiscation. Speaking at a briefing, Minister Alnazarova announced the introduction of a new article in the Criminal Code addressing threats and violence against medical workers. Threats alone could result in up to two years' restriction of liberty. Violence against a single medical worker may carry a sentence of 1 to 10 years, while attacks involving multiple perpetrators or targeting groups of workers could lead to up to 15 years of imprisonment. “These are adequate and necessary measures to protect our medical workers,” Alnazarova said, adding that the bill would be submitted to the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, in September. According to the Health Ministry, over 170 cases of violence against doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other healthcare staff have been recorded in Kazakhstan since 2019. “Such incidents must be resolutely suppressed by legal means,” Bektenov emphasized. “I instruct the ministries of health, internal affairs, and justice to develop and submit the necessary legislative amendments to parliament within ten days.” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, two recent assaults on medical personnel in Kazakhstan resulted in hospitalizations. In response, the health minister issued a public appeal urging an end to violence against medical staff.

Healthcare

White Coats, Red Lines: Kazakhstan Health Minister Demands End to Violence

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health, Akmaral Alnazarova, has issued a public appeal urging an end to violence against medical personnel, following two brutal attacks on healthcare workers in Karaganda and Kostanay. “Dear citizens of Kazakhstan, I am addressing you as a specialist who has worked as a nurse in a maternity hospital, as a doctor in the emergency room of a children’s hospital, as a duty officer, and as a resident; stop the violence against medical workers!” Alnazarova wrote on Instagram. Two Violent Incidents in One Week In Karaganda, a 42-year-old man accompanying his wife allegedly attacked a nurse at a private clinic, breaking down the door to the staff room and assaulting her. The nurse was hospitalized with a concussion and finger fractures. The assailant was later placed in a psychiatric clinic. Just one day later, on July 17, a young urologist at the Kostanay Regional Hospital was struck in the head by a waiting patient after completing a complex operation. The blow left the doctor unconscious with a skull fracture and brain trauma. He remains in intensive care. The attacker, a 34-year-old man, was detained, and a criminal investigation has been launched. “These are not just acts of aggression, they are direct blows to the entire healthcare system,” Alnazarova said. “This crime means dozens of patients not being admitted, dozens of postponed operations. The emergency room where the attack occurred is already a high-risk area.” Alnazarova emphasized that medical professionals deserve respect and gratitude, not violence. The recent attacks have ignited widespread concern across Kazakhstan’s medical community, with professional associations and hospital administrators calling for urgent reforms. The Kazakhstan Medical Workers’ Union issued a statement expressing solidarity with the victims and demanding swift prosecutions, while several regional hospitals have begun independently reviewing their on-site security protocols. Social media campaigns under hashtags like #ProtectOurDoctors and #SafetyInScrubs have gained traction, signaling growing public awareness that systemic change is needed to ensure healthcare workers can do their jobs without fear. Government Plans Tighter Security Measures The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is set to bolster security measures in medical facilities across the country. Plans include deploying round-the-clock security posts at emergency rooms, maternity wards, and children’s hospitals. Facilities will be equipped with surveillance cameras, panic buttons, and enhanced security staff. In parallel, legislative amendments aimed at toughening penalties for violence against medical workers are expected to be submitted to Parliament in September. Alnazarova stated that such crimes should be treated not as domestic incidents but as threats to public safety. Although the Criminal Code was amended in December 2023 to include penalties for harming medical staff, Alnazarova acknowledged that the recent incidents demonstrate these measures are insufficient. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a pilot program equipping ambulance workers with body cameras is already underway. The minister noted this initiative helps moderate the behavior of both patients and staff. Plans are also in place to reinstate police presence in hospitals and impose stricter...

Healthcare

UN Urges More Vaccinations; Kyrgyzstan Reports Drop in New Measles Cases

More children are vulnerable to disease and the risk of outbreaks is higher in Europe and Central Asia because coverage of childhood vaccines in 2024 remained below pre-pandemic levels, according to United Nations agencies. Still, some countries have pushed hard on vaccination campaigns and are currently reporting a slowdown in the spread of some infectious diseases – Kyrgyzstan, for example, said on Wednesday that measles cases are dropping. Data released this week by the World Health Organization and UNICEF reveal a “stagnated recovery” for childhood vaccinations against measles, whooping cough and other diseases in 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. The average coverage of those vaccines remained the same or dropped by 1% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the agencies. They cited examples of the declines between 2019 and 2024, including 92% to 91% with the second dose of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, 95% to 93% with the third dose of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP) vaccine and 95% to 93% with the third dose of the polio vaccine. “In many ways, vaccination has been a victim of its own success across Europe and Central Asia,” said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF’s regional director. “Today’s generation has not witnessed the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases – leading to complacency and making it easier for misinformation to take hold.” There was some progress in the coverage of newer vaccines, including against human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the U.N. data. Authors of the report urged governments to invest in health systems and make vaccines available. Kyrgyzstan, in particular, has struggled with measles outbreaks. The Ministry of Health, however, says a massive vaccination campaign that reached up to 1 million children has borne results since what it called the “rampant” spread of measles last autumn and winter. “From the beginning of the year to July 15, 8,672 confirmed cases of measles were registered in the republic,” the ministry said. But it said the number of new cases is gradually falling, with just 109 confirmed cases in the first two weeks of July. Kazakhstan, which has also battled measles outbreaks, said this week that the number of infectious disease cases is slowing, according to the state Kazinform News Agency.