During the inspection, the ombudsmen identified numerous systemic problems and violations of patient rights, indicating a low level of oncological care.
Hospitals are experiencing a shortage of linear accelerators, modern diagnostic equipment, qualified medical personnel, necessary medications, and hospital beds.
This not only leads to a deterioration in patients' health and an increase in the number of deaths from oncological diseases but also creates serious socio-economic problems for their families, as many are forced to seek treatment in private clinics.
At the NCOH, patients often have to wait in line for radiation therapy, with waiting times ranging from one to two weeks.
In August 2025, during the monitoring, 34 patients were waiting to start radiation therapy, but out of three machines intended for treatment, only one was operational, as two linear accelerators (Elekta Synergy and Elekta Synergy Platform) were out of order. Treatment was only conducted using an outdated device, the "Babatron".
Doctors emphasize that delays in treatment can lead to disease progression and pose a threat to patients' lives.
Linear accelerators are only available at the NCOH, which forces patients from different regions of the country to travel to Bishkek for radiation therapy.
Even with all three machines available, it is extremely difficult to provide timely treatment for all patients.
According to the NCOH, over the past five years, only 25.6% of patients with newly diagnosed cancer were able to receive radiation therapy.
According to international standards, there should be one linear accelerator for every 300,000 people, which means that for a population of 7 million, at least 20 such machines are required.
The situation in the field of oncology is further exacerbated by the lack of specialized fixation devices necessary for accurate patient positioning on linear accelerators, which ensures the effectiveness and safety of treatment.
During the monitoring, there were no thermoplastic masks available in the radiation therapy department, and the existing ones were worn out and deformed.
Human rights defenders noted that there is no possibility of providing full treatment for children in the radiation therapy department, as pediatric thermomasks are completely absent.
The results of the monitoring showed that it is difficult to talk about early diagnosis of cancer in the country due to outdated equipment and limited technical capabilities.
Only one ultrasound machine and one old mammograph, which has not been updated since 2014, were operational in the center. There was also a lack of angiographs, modern endoscopic, and laparoscopic systems.
Ombudsman Jamila Dzhamanbaeva called on government agencies to ensure the realization of citizens' constitutional right to health protection and access to quality and timely medical care.
