Kyrgyzstan, Qatar Explore New Frontiers in Healthcare Collaboration

Kyrgyz Health Minister Erkin Checheibaev has ecently met with Qatar’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Ali Jaber Mohammed Al Ghufran Al Marri to discuss ongoing cooperation and explore opportunities to further strengthen healthcare collaboration between the two countries.

A significant highlight of the meeting was the official invitation extended to Checheibaev to participate in the Global Mental Health Summit, scheduled to be held in Qatar in the fall of 2025, The Caspian Post reports per Kyrgyz media.

Al-Marri emphasized the possibility of a bilateral meeting between the health ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Qatar during the summit, aimed at identifying priority areas for partnership.

Checheibaev expressed sincere appreciation for Qatar’s support in advancing Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare infrastructure, including projects for building medical facilities and providing cochlear implants to children with hearing impairments.

Mental health emerged as a key topic, with the Kyrgyz delegation proposing potential support for major renovations and new construction at psychiatric service institutions, notably the Republican Psychiatric Hospitals in Chym-Korgon and Kyzyl-Jar villages. The Qatari ambassador welcomed these proposals and indicated that such initiatives could be implemented through Qatar’s charitable organizations.

In an effort to build healthcare capacity, the parties discussed an initiative to offer scholarship-based training in Qatar for final-year medical students from Kyrgyzstan, with the expectation that these graduates will return to contribute to the national healthcare system.

Checheibaev reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to actively collaborate with Qatari charitable foundations and official entities.

“We are open to practical collaboration and joint projects that will enhance the accessibility and quality of healthcare services for the people of Kyrgyzstan,” Checheibaev stated.