Advancing Climate-Resilient and People-Centred Health Systems in Kyrgyzstan

Professor Ainash Sharshenova, Chief Research Fellow at the National Institute of Public Health under the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, shared her perspective on how cooperation with the United Nations has supported public health policy, climate resilience and institutional development.

Drawing on her experience in research, public health and medical education, Professor Sharshenova emphasized the importance of looking at health not as a stand-alone sector, but as an issue closely linked to climate change, environmental conditions, education, data and the capacity of public institutions.

Bringing health into climate policy

One area where this approach is increasingly visible is national climate planning.

With support from the United Nations, health considerations have been incorporated into key national climate processes, including the National Adaptation Plan and Kyrgyzstan’s updated climate commitments. This helps ensure that the effects of climate change on people’s health are considered alongside environmental, social and economic risks.

The same connection is reflected in national health policy. Climate- and environment-related health concerns have been integrated into the “Healthy Person – Prosperous Country” programme, reinforcing the understanding that population health depends not only on access to health services, but also on the conditions in which people live.

For Professor Sharshenova, this is particularly important because climate-related health challenges often cut across institutional mandates. Addressing them requires health authorities to work with specialists in areas such as environment, emergency management, agriculture, education and local development.

Training and knowledge-sharing supported by the UN have helped create opportunities for this kind of cooperation. By bringing together health professionals and representatives of other sectors, these initiatives strengthen technical knowledge while also encouraging a more coordinated approach to complex public health risks.

Strengthening health capacity beyond the national level

Professor Sharshenova stressed that future cooperation should place greater emphasis on strengthening capacity outside central institutions.

Kyrgyzstan’s mountainous geography and dispersed population mean that access to expertise, training and services can vary considerably between the capital, regional centres and more remote communities. Building a resilient health system therefore requires sustained investment in health professionals and institutions at regional, district and community levels.

Continuous professional development remains an important priority. Doctors, public health specialists and other health workers need regular opportunities to update their knowledge and skills as health risks evolve.

At the same time, professional training alone is not enough. Professor Sharshenova highlighted the value of working more directly with communities so that people have clear, practical information about health risks and can take preventive action before problems become more serious.

This combination — stronger professional capacity and better public awareness — can help make the health system more responsive and more closely connected to the needs of people.

Preparing for emerging and complex health risks

Another priority identified by Professor Sharshenova is stronger preparedness for public health emergencies.

She pointed to the value of practical exercises, simulations and scenario-based training that allow institutions and health workers to test how they would respond to outbreaks, emergencies and other health threats before they occur.

Such preparedness is relevant not only to infectious diseases. It also includes the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and the wider health consequences of environmental and climate-related pressures.

Embedding prevention, risk assessment and early action more systematically into routine health planning would help institutions identify threats earlier and respond more effectively.

Using data and digital tools more effectively

Digital transformation could also strengthen the health sector’s ability to anticipate and respond to risks.

Professor Sharshenova noted the potential of modern information systems to improve how health, environmental and other relevant data are collected, shared and analysed.

Better links between different data sources could give decision makers a clearer picture of emerging trends, support more accurate risk assessments and help authorities respond more quickly when new challenges arise.

Improved digital systems could also support stronger cooperation across sectors by making relevant information easier to access and use.

Informing the next phase of cooperation

Professor Sharshenova’s reflections highlight several areas that will remain important for future cooperation: integrating health into climate policy, strengthening professional capacity at all levels, improving preparedness, expanding community engagement and making better use of data and digital tools.

They also provide useful evidence for the evaluation of the UNSDCF 2023–2027. The evaluation offers an opportunity to examine where UN cooperation has added value, where further support is needed and how approaches can be adapted to changing national priorities.

These lessons can help inform the next Cooperation Framework and future partnership between the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Nations, with the aim of building a health system that is more resilient, better connected across sectors and better equipped to respond to both existing and emerging risks.