Ministers, policy-makers, and investment and development partners from across Central Asia and beyond have agreed to a range of initiatives that will strengthen investment in health across the 5 countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and take forward the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in Central Asia (2022–2025).
This consensus was reached at the Central Asia International Health Investment Forum, held on 26–27 June 2024, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Speaking at the Forum on behalf of His Excellency Mr Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr Edil Baisalov, the Deputy Prime Minister, underlined the concept of “shared prosperity” – that Central Asian countries grow and prosper together, benefitting from mutual trade, peace and security, with health at the centre.
The initiatives agreed by delegates present at the Forum include the establishment of a Health Investment Group, comprising country leaders and investment partners from Central Asia who will meet regularly to guide progress on the Roadmap, and the creation of a Health Investment Plan to channel more resources into 11 priority areas for health.
The new Health Investment Plan will place specific focus on advancing universal health coverage through investing in primary health care and improving financial protection and health equity. It will promote health and well-being through investment in initiatives to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases and to create healthy and green environments. The Plan will also gather resources to protect people from health emergencies, through further investment in mitigating, detecting and responding to health emergencies as well as combatting antimicrobial resistance.
In brief: Central Asia International Health Investment Forum
- The Forum was hosted by WHO/Europe together with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, under the auspices of His Excellency Mr Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Over 200 delegates, including ministers, ambassadors, representatives of ministries of health and foreign affairs, international development banks, public health organizations, and multilateral bodies, youth representatives and health professionals, met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 26–27 June 2024.
- Discussions were facilitated through a series of 5 round tables on rethinking rural health, the power of communities and inclusive digital solutions; a future free of TB and the vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis and viral hepatitis; preparing Central Asia for emergencies; implementing the NCD-related Sustainable Development Goals; and accelerating progress in addressing environment, health and climate change challenges.
- Delegates signed an Outcome Statement committing them to establish a Health Investment Group and Health Investment Plan.