Photos provided by the family of Kadyrbek Ilyasov.
On March 7, 2026, a significant anniversary was to take place — the 90th birthday of Kadyrbek Ilyasovich Ilyasov, who was one of the most respected doctors in Kyrgyzstan. Despite his passing in 2025, his memory lives on through his students, colleagues, and numerous patients he helped.
Throughout his more than 50-year medical career, Kadyrbek Ilyasov combined medical practice with management activities, making a significant contribution to the development of urological services in the country and training new specialists. He performed about 16,000 surgeries and left behind numerous scientific articles.
Early Years
Kadyrbek Ilyasov was born on March 7, 1936, in Ak-Bashat, located in the Moscow district of Chui region. His childhood was marked by difficult times, but his interest in medicine emerged while he was still in school.In 1953, he successfully graduated from Budyonovsk Secondary School and enrolled in a medical institute. He later recalled that his desire to become a doctor arose from the work of a local physician and the allure of the medical field.
Career Beginnings: Jalal-Abad
In 1959, after graduating from the Faculty of Medicine, the young specialist was sent to Jalal-Abad, where he worked as a surgeon in the city hospital and also taught at a medical college. It was during this period that he decided to focus on urology, as there was a shortage of specialists in this field.From 1962, Kadyrbek Ilyasov headed the city polyclinic while continuing his surgical practice. He noted that in Jalal-Abad, "urology was practically absent" and needed to be developed from scratch.
Healthcare Organization
Photos provided by the family of Kadyrbek Ilyasov.
In 1970, Kadyrbek Ilyasov became the chief physician of the Osh Regional Polyclinic, combining his duties with practice in urology and general surgery. He dealt with pediatric urology, often encountering congenital pathologies and complex cases.
His career then continued in republican clinics: he worked as an intern and urologist-surgeon (1976), first deputy chief physician of Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Frunze (1977), and then first deputy chief physician of the Republican Clinical Hospital (1979). In 1990, he completed his active surgical activity but remained a sought-after consultant.
Establishment of the Republican Diagnostic Center
Among Kadyrbek Ilyasovich's most significant achievements is the establishment of the Republican Diagnostic Center in Bishkek. In the late 1980s, the union republics received unique diagnostic equipment on the condition that the corresponding buildings were ready. Kyrgyzstan needed to hurry, as circumstances could change at any moment.In his memoirs, Ilyasov emphasized that thanks to resourcefulness, they managed to avoid losing the equipment: the commissions were shown a different building, which allowed the republic to obtain the necessary equipment for the healthcare system to function.
Professional Achievements and Approach to Medicine
Photos provided by the family of Kadyrbek Ilyasov.
His colleagues often note that Kadyrbek Ilyasovich did not shy away from complex cases and made decisions when others hesitated. He performed rare surgeries for the country, developed reconstructive urology, and worked with severe complications that required high qualifications.
At the same time, he always communicated with patients in an accessible language, explaining medical aspects without arrogance. In his public speeches on men's health, he emphasized the importance of timely visits to a doctor and criticized self-treatment.
Family and Support
Photos provided by the family of Kadyrbek Ilyasov.
Family also played an important role in Kadyrbek Ilyasovich's life. In various interviews, he fondly recalled his wife, Lydia Kartanbaevna, and how they got married on September 12, 1959. In his stories, this is not just a romantic tale but a symbol of a reliable support system without which it would have been impossible to endure the long years of work and responsibility.
Legacy and Memory
Kadyrbek Ilyasovich passed away on July 24, 2025. Nevertheless, he remains not only a name in the history of medicine but also a symbol of professionalism, organizational skills, and respect for patients.
