According to the institute's press service, by the end of August 2025, about 60 children were receiving treatment at the NCMCH inpatient facility.
“There is particular concern regarding the increase in the number of new cases of cancer among children. In 2014, about 70 new cases were registered annually, but since 2023, this number has exceeded 200. The most common diagnoses include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastomas, and nephroblastomas. The increase in cases is related to both the rise in incidence and improved diagnostics,” their statement noted.
Oncologists express particular concern regarding the increasing number of cases where parents refuse treatment for their children.
“Some parents do not trust medical institutions and face financial difficulties. For religious reasons, they prefer to turn to mullahs and folk healers. There was a case where the parents of a child with leukemia, after remission, switched to alternative treatment methods. A year later, the disease progressed, and the child passed away,” the doctors told the human rights defenders.
As a result of the monitoring, ombudsman Jamila Dzhamanbaeva sent recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, and the State Enterprise "Kyrgyzpharmacia" to address the identified issues.
She proposed developing a new strategy for the control and prevention of oncological diseases, as well as approving a comprehensive plan to combat oncology for 2025–2030.
Additionally, Jamila Dzhamanbaeva calls for allocating funds in the republican budget for the maintenance of equipment and reviewing the conditions for purchasing medications for cancer patients.
