Press Release

The European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working to strengthen the digitalization of healthcare in Kyrgyzstan

18 March 2024

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Yesterday, members of the delegation of the European Union (EU), together with representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the management of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, visited the City Perinatal Center and Family Medicine Center #6 to study the practice of using digital solutions in the field of healthcare. 

In particular, they got acquainted with the immunization information system "iEmdoo" ("iЭмдөө").

During the visit, members of the delegation met with medical workers who actively use digital tools in the daily work of the hospital and the organization of primary health care. They became familiar with the practical application of information systems for birth registration and patient outpatient records.

The "iEmdoo" information system was also demonstrated, which allows for personalized records of people receiving vaccines, including planned ones and those carried out for epidemiological reasons. This system, through a digital vaccination card created in the maternity hospital during the first vaccination of a newborn, allows recording information about medical exemptions, possible side effects after vaccination, and other important aspects of the patient’s health throughout life.

As noted by the Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Bakyt Dzhangaziev, data on the vaccination of children is available to their parents through a mobile application, which helps to more actively involve parents in caring for the health of their children. To date, over 2 million digital vaccination cards have been created, which emphasizes the relevance of this information system.

"This regional project builds up stronger and more resilient health systems in Central Asia. Thanks to the EU support, amounting to 10 million EUR, healthcare sector of Kyrgyzstan is better prepared to respond to global, regional or national health crises", Hans Farhnhammer, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Kyrgyzstan. 

During the visit, Dr. Liviu Vedrasco, WHO Representative to Kyrgyzstan, noted that in the digital era, Kyrgyzstan's focus on strengthening digital health is a strategic step towards achieving universal health coverage. Using technology, the country is taking bold steps to ensure that healthcare is accessible to every citizen.

At the end of the visit, members of the delegation discussed vectors for further cooperation and the implementation of the Target Model for the Development of Digital Healthcare "Sanarip MED" and exchanged valuable views and opinions regarding its effectiveness and development prospects.

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Additional information: The visit was organized as part of a 4-year EU-funded project in 5 countries of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforce the resilience of health systems. Immunization plays a pivotal role in this regard. By supporting Central Asian countries to promote and deliver vaccines safely to the population, infectious diseases can be prevented and controlled more effectively. 

The EU is investing €10 million into Central Asia’s immunization and health information systems – further modernizing them through digitalization and improving the availability of good-quality data, which is crucial to ensuring high immunization coverage at all times, leaving no one behind.

Almaz Zhumaliev

Almaz Zhumaliev

WHO
Communications Officer

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WHO
World Health Organization

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