Bishkek, Oct. 21, 2025 /Kabar/. Kyrgyz Health Minister Erkin Checheibaev met with World Health Organization (WHO) mission invited by the minister, to develop a national strategy for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). According to the ministry, the mission is led by Gundo Weiler, WHO/Europe Director for Prevention and Health Promotion, and Melitta Jakab, Head of WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care.
The mission included leading international experts in public health, NCD prevention, digitalization, and health economics, as well as representatives from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, headquarters in Geneva, and regional offices.
The main goal of the visit is to facilitate the development and promotion of the National Strategy for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, with a focus on strengthening public health and integrating preventive approaches into primary health care (PHC).
In addition, a number of events are planned during the visit, including meeting with the steering committee and working groups, a thematic seminar on NCD strategy and the integration of prevention into primary health care, a visit to a demonstration site to study practices for delegating authority to nurses and developing health promotion services, and high-level policy dialogue with representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Tax Service.
Erkin Checheibayev emphasized that the prevention of non-communicable diseases is a key priority of state policy. Following the instructions of the President, the Ministry of Health is focusing its efforts on prevention. Our goal is to be not only a ministry for treating patients, but also a ministry for health promotion. Therefore, developing a national NCD strategy is of fundamental importance to us, the minister said. He also emphasized that the strategy will be intersectoral and will encompass healthcare, education, the economy, social protection, and local government.
Kyrgyzstan intends to adapt the best international practices of WHO and implement them in the national system. Particular attention is being paid to the development of primary health care and enhancing the role of family doctors, nurses and social workers in the prevention of non-communicable diseases, he added.