State hospitals will be allowed to set their own prices for fee-paying services

The Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers has launched a pilot scheme to grant state healthcare institutions greater financial and managerial autonomy. The relevant decree was signed on 29 May as part of the implementation of the presidential decree on enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of state healthcare organisations.

Fourteen healthcare facilities will operate under this pilot scheme until the end of 2026.

List of state healthcare organisations:

1. Academician Mirsaid Mirrakhimov National Centre for Cardiology and Therapy
2. National Hospital
3. Research Institute of Cardiac Surgery and Organ Transplantation
4. National Surgical Centre named after Academician Mambet Mamakeev
5. Family Medicine Centre No. 6, Bishkek
6. Family Medicine Centre No. 1, Bishkek
7. Dental Clinic No. 4, Bishkek
8. General Practice Centre of the Issyk-Ata District, Chui Region
9. Osh City Clinical Hospital
10. Osh City Dental Clinic No. 1
11. Kara-Suu District Hospital
12. General Practice Centre of Kyzyl-Kya, Batken Region
13. Jalal-Abad Regional Clinical Hospital
14. Family Medicine Centre of the Suzak District, Jalal-Abad Region.

The main change is that the heads of organisations participating in the experiment will be granted the right to independently determine their staffing structure, set staff numbers, establish salary levels and incentive payments, and manage their own revenues.

In addition, state hospitals will, for the first time, be permitted to independently set and approve tariffs for fee-based medical services. Prices must be calculated using a methodology approved by the Ministry of Health, whilst preferential tariffs will remain in place for socially vulnerable groups.

Another important innovation will be the ability to use generated funds more flexibly. Medical organisations will be able to allocate revenue from fee-based services towards modernising equipment, incentivising staff, improving staff skills and developing new areas of activity.

The document also provides for the expansion of the list of fee-based services and the creation of special departments within public hospitals to provide them. It is expected that this will enable institutions to increase their non-budgetary income and reduce their dependence on state funding.

At the same time, participants in the pilot scheme will retain their obligations to implement the State Guarantees Programme and ensure the accessibility of medical care for the population. The decree specifically emphasises that the granting of additional autonomy must not lead to a deterioration in the quality or accessibility of medical services.