Early diagnosis of cancer diseases in the Kyrgyz Republic is challenging - Ombudsman Institute

Ирина Орлонская Society
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In 2025, employees of the Ombudsman Institute of Kyrgyzstan conducted an analysis of the work of the National Center for Oncology and Hematology (NCOH), as well as the pediatric oncology and hematology department of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health.

During the monitoring, representatives of the akiykatchi discovered serious systemic problems and violations of patients' rights, indicating a low level of provided oncological care.

The hospital is experiencing a shortage of modern linear accelerators, quality diagnostic equipment, medical personnel, necessary medications, and inpatient beds.
This situation not only worsens patients' health and contributes to an increase in mortality from oncological diseases but also creates significant socio-economic difficulties for their families, who are forced to seek treatment in private clinics.

At the NCOH, there are queues for radiation therapy, and patients wait for treatment from one to two weeks.

Early diagnosis of cancer in the Kyrgyz Republic is difficult - Ombudsman Institute

In August 2025, during the monitoring, 34 patients were waiting to start radiation therapy; however, out of three machines intended for treatment, two linear accelerators (Elekta Synergy and Elekta Synergy Platform) were out of order. Treatment was conducted exclusively using an outdated "Babatron" machine.

Medical workers emphasize that delays in providing assistance can lead to disease progression and threaten patients' lives.
Linear accelerators are located only at the NCOH, which forces patients from all regions of the country to travel to Bishkek for radiation therapy.

Even with three functioning machines, it is extremely difficult to ensure timely treatment for all those in need.

According to NCOH data, over the past five years, only about 25.6% of patients with newly diagnosed cancer have been able to receive radiation therapy.

International standards suggest that there should be one linear accelerator for every 300,000 people, and for a population of 7 million, at least 20 machines are needed.
The situation in oncology is further aggravated by a lack of special fixation devices necessary for accurate patient positioning during treatment on linear accelerators, which increases the effectiveness of the impact on tumors and the safety of procedures.

During the monitoring, there were no thermoplastic masks available in the radiation therapy department, and the existing ones were worn out and deformed.

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Human rights defenders emphasized that there are no facilities in the radiation therapy department for conducting full-fledged procedures for children, as pediatric thermomasks were not available.

As a result of the monitoring, it became evident that discussing early diagnosis of oncological diseases in the country is extremely difficult due to outdated equipment and limited technical capabilities.

Only one ultrasound machine and one outdated mammogram machine, which has been in use since 2014, were available at the center. There was also a noticeable shortage of angiographs, modern endoscopic, and laparoscopic systems.

Ombudsman Jamila Dzhamanbaeva called on government agencies to ensure the realization of citizens' constitutional right to health protection and access to quality, timely medical assistance.
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