At the public hearings on the General Plan for Bishkek until 2050, Dmitry Pereyaslavsky highlighted potential risks associated with the placement of new hospitals. He noted that relocating medical institutions to the eastern and southern parts of the city, as outlined in the project, could exacerbate transportation issues, especially for emergency services.
According to the expert, concentrating large medical centers in one area may hinder emergency access to patients from other parts of the capital. "It is important for social facilities, such as hospitals and parks, to be evenly distributed throughout the city, rather than concentrated in one area. This directly affects the accessibility of medical services," he added.
Pereyaslavsky also raised the question of how transportation routes for delivering patients will be organized if large medical institutions end up in one part of the capital.
On the other hand, Irina Grishechkina, the developer of the General Plan and a specialist from the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Urban Development, confirmed that all existing hospitals will remain in their places. According to her, Bishkek will require about 10 new medical institutions.
Grishechkina also reported that the General Plan includes the creation of a republican hospital cluster and the construction of three new facilities. Currently, work on refining the parameters and placement of new institutions is ongoing in collaboration with the city administration, and their number may change in the future.
She emphasized that the main goal is to create a polycentric city that will not depend on a single central area. This will help reduce the need for trips to the city center for medical services, allowing residents to receive everything they need in their neighborhoods, including medical assistance.
Grishechkina assured that the General Plan does not imply the closure of existing hospitals but is aimed at expanding the healthcare system in line with the city's development.
It is important to note that Bishkek is currently experiencing a tense situation with patient transportation to medical facilities due to traffic jams and a shortage of ambulances. This issue remains highly relevant, as every minute can be crucial for a person's life in emergency situations.
