The main objective of the program is to improve the health of mothers and children, as well as the early detection and prevention of hereditary and chromosomal diseases. Additionally, it aims to enhance the accessibility and quality of medical care at all stages of pregnancy.
The program aims to prevent the birth of children with genetic disorders and congenital anomalies, as well as to reduce the rates of childhood morbidity, disability, and mortality in the country. Congenital malformations and hereditary diseases remain among the leading causes of perinatal pathology and infant mortality.
According to the justification report, pregnant women in Kyrgyzstan do not undergo examinations regularly and not in accordance with established protocols. This leads to late diagnoses and reduces the chances for timely treatment, which in turn increases the number of cases of newborn disabilities.
The proposed system will be based on biochemical and ultrasound screening conducted in the first and second trimesters. Women identified as high-risk will be referred for additional tests and genetic consultations. Screening should occur within strictly established timeframes: 11-13 weeks for the first trimester and 18-21 weeks for the second.
In each region, it is planned to create one specialized screening center based in major medical institutions. These centers should be equipped with modern ultrasound machines and automatic biochemical analyzers.
All stages of screening will be digitally recorded, allowing for tracking the status of each pregnant woman and monitoring compliance with examination deadlines, as well as preventing cases of loss of clinical contact. Screening data will be consolidated into a single database accessible to obstetric-gynecological and neonatal specialists.
To ensure the effectiveness of prenatal diagnostics, comprehensive examinations of pregnant women must be conducted within established timeframes and on a mass scale, involving certified specialists who undergo annual external audits.
The population health protection and healthcare development program of Kyrgyzstan for 2019-2030, titled "Healthy Person — Prosperous Country," does not include a medical-genetic service or a prenatal diagnostics program.
In more than 100 countries around the world, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, state programs for mass prenatal screening have already been developed, funded by the state as part of the guaranteed volume of free medical care or mandatory health insurance. These programs help identify syndromes such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, as well as heart defects and neural tube defects at early stages of pregnancy, as reported by the Ministry of Health.
