The availability of nephrologists for adults is 0.26 per 100,000 people, which is significantly lower than the World Health Organization's recommended level of ≥1.0 for developing countries. This creates a deficit of 34 specialists, meaning that the number of doctors needs to be increased fourfold.
As for pediatric nephrologists, their availability is 0.3 per 100,000 population, which is also below the recommended level of ≥1.0. The deficit here is 16 doctors, indicating that the number of specialists needs to be increased by 3.3 times.
The average age of nephrologists in the country is 47 years, with 38% of specialists over 55 years old and 14% under 35 years old.
The most acute staff shortage is observed in the Naryn, Batken, Issyk-Kul, and Talas regions, where nephrologist positions are either absent or combined with other specialties.
“The situation requires active training and retraining of doctors in the specialty of ‘nephrology’. Currently, training for nephrologists and hemodialysis specialists is conducted at the Kyrgyz State Medical Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training. Of the 19 outpatient nephrologists, only five (30%) have received training to treat patients with transplanted kidneys. Considering the number of patients with such transplants, there is a significant shortage of qualified doctors needed to monitor immunosuppression and transplant function, as well as to work with the kidney transplant waiting list,” the report emphasizes.
It is worth noting that on February 18, news broke about the detention of nephrologist Nasira Beishebaeva. The staff of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health appealed to President Sadyr Japarov to conduct an objective and comprehensive investigation into the situation in accordance with the law. On February 19, the doctor was released under house arrest.
According to the data from the capital's Main Internal Affairs Directorate, a complaint was received from a citizen Z.S. about a possible medical error at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health. According to the provided information, in October 2024, nephrologist N.B. committed improper medical intervention while treating the minor K.A., which led to the amputation of the right leg. However, according to medical sources, this case initially had complications.
