In January 2026, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, signed a new law that tightens the requirements for education and scientific activity in the field of medicine. This law introduces changes to the accreditation, licensing, and quality control of medical specialists' training.
Key provisions of the new legislation:
All educational programs in the field of medicine and pharmacy must undergo mandatory state accreditation. Educational institutions that fail to pass accreditation will lose the right to admit students and issue state diplomas.
A government franchise system is being introduced. Private medical educational institutions are required to work in conjunction with a state university, which will necessitate the use of state educational programs and teaching materials, as well as oversight from the basic structure.
Tightening of state control over the quality of medical personnel training, which will be carried out by the relevant health authority.
Clarification of the procedures for internship and residency programs with implementation in accredited institutions.
In connection with these innovations, the following questions arise:
What will be the real standards for training specialists, especially in cardiology?
Who will be able to conduct such training that meets modern international requirements in a real format (lectures, seminars, practical classes, training)?
To assess the situation regarding the training of qualified medical personnel, it is useful to familiarize oneself with the document “2025 ACC/AHA/ASE/ASNC/SCCT/SCMR Advanced Training Statement on Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging,” which was developed by six professional organizations, including the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. This document clearly outlines the requirements for physicians involved in cardiovascular imaging:
Physicians must:
Know the normal parameters of sizes and functional characteristics of cardiac chambers depending on demographic factors (age, sex, race).
Have an understanding of the physiology of the heart and the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases.
Understand the anatomy and functions of the cardiovascular system, as well as related structures in the context of various imaging methods.
Know the methods for recognizing normal and pathological anatomy on extracardiac images.
Be familiar with the physics and principles of data acquisition, image formation, and reconstruction for each imaging method.
Be able to optimize spatial and temporal resolution for each imaging method.
Know the causes of image distortions and ways to eliminate them, as well as the application of artificial intelligence in imaging.
Have an understanding of the risks and procedures to mitigate them for patients and medical personnel.
Understand the contraindications for each imaging method and choose the optimal method based on the patient's needs.
Know the principles of radiation safety and optimization of radiation exposure.
Have an understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of contrast agents and their side effects.
Know the indications and contraindications for imaging in pregnant women and during the postpartum period.
Understand the risks, contraindications, and ways to mitigate them when conducting stress tests.
Be knowledgeable about the principles of cardiovascular hemodynamics in health and disease.
Know the indications, methods, and limitations of imaging for assessing hemodynamics.
Have an understanding of the relationship between imaging results and invasive methods.
Know the indications and limitations for assessing heart valve function.
Have an understanding of the normal and abnormal anatomy of valves and prostheses.
Know the indications for imaging pericardial and aortic diseases.
Understand the requirements for imaging children and individuals with autoimmune diseases.
Be aware of the diagnosis of congenital heart defects and their clinical significance.
Have an understanding of imaging mechanical heart support devices.
Thus, the requirements for training specialists in cardiovascular imaging are high and demand a significant level of knowledge and practical skills. Education should include a variety of methods, such as didactic teaching, mentorship, and practical training on clinical cases. Since the volume of research is also important, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient amount of practice to achieve full competence.
The minimum required volumes of procedures for specialists in cardiovascular imaging are presented in the table:
| All specialists in cardiovascular imaging | Specializing in a specific area of cardiovascular imaging | ||
| Interpretation of multi-slice CT results | 250 | 450 | Includes various types of MSCT, including coronary arteries and other types of scans. |
| CT studies with direct involvement | 65 | 150 | Requires participation in patient preparation and data interpretation. |
| Total number of interpreted MRI cases | 200 | 350 | Includes a wide range of pathologies. |
| MRI studies with direct involvement | 100 | 150 | Includes advanced imaging techniques. |
| Total number of interpreted echocardiographic examinations | 475 | 1100 | Includes all types of echocardiograms. |
| Total number of interpretations of nuclear heart tomography | 300 | 575 | Includes SPECT and PET studies. |
Thus, it is important to understand who and under what conditions will be able to conduct such training. Without a clear understanding of these conditions, the development of medicine in our country will be hindered, and patients will be forced to seek alternative solutions for their health problems.
