The Kyrgyz Government initiated reforms in Health sector in 1995 with focus on health financing and primary health care. The reforms in Health Sector achieved considerable results in transforming the former centralised soviet system by strengthening Primary Health Care through the introduction of Family Medicine and Mandatory Health Insurance Fund. This resulted in a 95% universal coverage of the population for some basic health services. Despite several political instabilities over the last few years, the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic has kept implementing the reforms and providing health care for the population. The issue of quality of care remains however a challenge for the Kyrgyz Health system, which has to be addressed during the next generation of reforms (2012-2016). The Health sector reforms are implemented under strong leadership of the Ministry of Health and have been supporting by Development Partners since 2006 through a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).

The overall goal of the program is to improve the health of the population, to ensure equitable access to health services and improve their quality. It will thus support the government’s efforts towards achieving the objectives of the National Health Sector strategy “Den Sooluk” (2012-2016) and the Millennium Development Goals, by complementing the funding for the health sector and strengthening its capacity to manage it.

The final beneficiaries are the people of the Kyrgyz Republic:

• Overall population of the country
• Medical personnel of all health facilities
• Staff of the Ministry of Health and Mandatory Health Insurance Fund 

The overall objective of the phase is to ensure continuity of the Health Care Reforms during 2012-2016 through a Sector-Wide Approach and adequate funding, with fiduciary risks mitigated and financial management improved. By supporting the implementation of the reform strategy ‘Den Sooluk 2012-2016’, SDC will contribute to establish conditions for the protection and improvement of the population’s health as a whole and for each individual and reduce inequity (Den Sooluk Vision Statement). The Strategy’s principles are (1) to put people in the center, (2) to maintain a results orientation, (3) to remove systematic barriers to better health, (4) to apply democracy in implementation, (5) to further use a Sector-Wide Approach.

Results from previous phases:  

• Significant progresses in health indicators such as reduction of infant mortality; decline of TB incidence and mortality; stabilization of cardiovascular mortality; maternal mortality however is still high and HIV incidence continues to rise
• Improved financial protection and reduced financial burden on patients as a result of the increased public funding (from 10.6% of total State budget in 2006 to 13% in 2011) and strengthening of the Single Payer system and its national pooled resources allocated to the State Guaranteed Benefit Package
• Greater harmonization and division of labor in DPs interventions in the health sector with introduction of SWAp in Health sector 

Phase 4 15.10.2012 - 30.06.2019   (Completed)