Recently, a presentation of the "Healthy Heart" program took place in Bishkek, approved by the decree of the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov. This initiative aims to reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases by 25% from 2025 to 2030.
Meeting participants emphasized that combating cardiovascular diseases is one of the main priorities in the country's healthcare. Currently, approximately 20,000 people die annually from cardiovascular diseases in Kyrgyzstan, which amounts to about 60 cases per day. The program aims for a significant reduction in these figures by 2030.
Cardiovascular diseases rank first in the world in terms of mortality, which is also confirmed by data from the World Health Organization, indicating that Kyrgyzstan is among the countries with a high mortality rate from coronary heart disease.
Despite previously implemented programs aimed at reducing mortality, the situation has not improved. Compared to 2018, the number of cardiovascular disease cases has increased by 25%. For example, in 2023, more than three thousand people with advanced stages of diseases were hospitalized at the National Center for Cardiology and Therapy.
Why did previous initiatives not yield the expected results? The main problems were insufficient funding and a shortage of personnel, as well as a low level of responsibility among the population for their health. The new program aims to change this situation by offering new methods to increase personal responsibility for health and implementing innovations.
A key aspect of any national healthcare program is a comprehensive approach that covers not only medical aspects but also the organization of medical care at the local level, nutrition issues, and physical activity. Experts in cardiology, representatives of medical institutions, as well as governors and health coordinators attended the program presentation, indicating the government's serious intentions to combat cardiovascular diseases.
Before developing the program, its authors consulted with international partners and studied the experiences of other countries to take into account the mistakes of previous initiatives. As a result, the "Healthy Heart" program was created, with the goal of reducing mortality from cardiovascular diseases by 25% by 2030.
The program includes several key areas, focusing on two main ones. The first is the prevention and early detection of diseases. Using the state portal "Tunduk," citizens can take the "Check Your Health" questionnaire, which includes eight questions about their health status. Based on the results of the questionnaire, it will be recommended to consult a family doctor for further examination.
- Arterial hypertension is the main threat to health, - noted Professor Talant Sooronbaev, director of the National Center for Cardiology and Therapy. - Knowing your blood pressure and regular monitoring can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.
- The second area of the program is improving treatment. In Kyrgyzstan, it is planned to create a network of catheterization laboratories, which will form the basis for high-tech assistance in the regions. This will ensure the accessibility of medical services and reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases, - added Sooronbaev.
According to the plan, by 2030, 17 cath labs will be opened, which will provide the opportunity for free stent placement, which was previously unavailable to many patients due to high costs.
- The "Healthy Heart" program is extremely important and must be implemented in practice, as it aims to save the lives of thousands of citizens, - emphasized Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan.
To achieve the set goals, it is planned to modernize cardiology departments and the primary healthcare sector.
As noted by Liviu Vedrasco, head of the WHO country office, Kyrgyzstan is entering a new phase in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, focusing on prevention and primary care.
- The new program is an excellent addition to the "NCD-plus" strategy, also being developed by the Ministry of Health, - added Vedrasco.
Coordinated efforts to combat non-communicable diseases and cardiovascular diseases will significantly reduce the burden of diseases.
- NCDs cost the Kyrgyz economy 30 billion soms annually, which is 4.8% of GDP. We cannot ignore the issues related to cardiovascular diseases, as they are directly linked to the social and economic development of the country, - concluded Vedrasco.
Talant Sooronbaev assured that the program will be implemented, and the set goals will be achieved.
- During the preparation of the program, we conducted a systematic analysis and noted the shortcomings in the work of healthcare services, which led to the necessity of creating a new model for organizing medical care at the local level, - he concluded.
The main goal of the "Healthy Heart" program is to improve the quality and longevity of life for the citizens of Kyrgyzstan.
