Kyrgyzstan Health Insurance

The Kyrgyz Republic (formerly the Republic of Kyrgyzstan) is located in Central Asia and is bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the Peoples Republic of China. It is informally known as Kyrgyzstan. Its capital city is Bishkek and the population of the country is approximately 5.5 million, two thirds of whom live rurally. The official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian. The country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It is an independent Turkic state.

Kyrgyzstan is the furthest country away from the ocean in the world, due to its landlocked location in Central Asia. Eighty percent of the country’s land space is occupied by the Tian Shan mountainous region, earning it the title “the Switzerland of Central Asia”. It is very beautiful and home to a nomadic people. It is also home to the world’s second largest lake, Issyk-Kul which is a popular tourist destination as it offers many hotels and resorts. Trekking and camping spots can be found in each region. The country receives heavy snow fall in winter which is used for hydro electricity and often causes problematic flooding in spring. Snow skiing is offered but is still being established as a widespread tourism venture. The weather in Kyrgyzstan varies greatly from region to region. The South West is very hot in summers whereas the coldest areas are sub zero for a period during winter.

The country has large deposits of rare earth metals and gold, and encourages foreign investment to extract it. Kyrgyzstan has had economic difficulties following its independence from the Soviet Union. It is the second poorest country in Central Asia despite receiving backing from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asia Development Bank. The agricultural sector is very important, in 2002 it accounted for approximately half of the country’s employment and 35.6 percent of GDP. Livestock raising, production of wool, meat and dairy products and the growing of crops such as tobacco, cotton, wheat, fruit and vegetables all take place. Most of the farming is done by hand and with the assistance of horses as the cost of imported petrol and agrichemicals is very high.

The country is politically unstable. Four members of Parliament, who were allegedly involved in illegal businesses, were assassinated in 2005 and 2006. On 6 April 2010 civil arrest broke out following a protest against Government corruption and increased living costs. A state of emergency was declared. It is estimated that 80 people died following clashes with the police. A clash occurred between the two main ethnic groups in the city of Osh in June 2010. This resulted in food shortages and an estimated 2,000 deaths. Emergency aid was dropped into the country by the UN and Russia. As many as 400,000 people were left homeless, some of which relocated to nearby Uzbekistan.

Kyrgyzstan Health Care and Insurance

The availability of medical care in Kyrgyzstan is very limited; in 2009 approximately 4.1 percent of GDP was spent on health care. In 2007 the country had 2.301 Doctors per 1,000 people and 5.06 hospital beds per 1,000 people. There is a Ministry of Health which is responsible for overseeing the country’s health care system. Kyrgyzstan inherited its healthcare system from the Soviet Union which provided free services for all citizens. In 1997 it introduced compulsory health insurance scheme by way of the Mandatory Kyrgyzstan Health Insurance Fund to increase efficiency within the country’s healthcare system. In 2001 a further change was made whereby the Government introduced the Single Payer Reform. This bought in a State Guarantee Benefit Package with free primary health care and co payments required for hospitalisation. Previously informal and unregulated co payments were common which placed a financial burden on the poor.

Most expatriates requiring medical treatment go to the Medical Associates Clinic (telephone: 680 262) as the Doctors speak English and are trained in Western countries. Other recommend medical facilities include, the German-Kyrgyz Medical Center which has an English speaking professor (telephone 312 512 197), the VIP Clinic which has a 24 hour ambulance and English speakers (telephone: 996 312 660 356). Many medical facilities will require payment in cash for their services. For serious medical conditions, patients may need to be transported to a nearby country with better medical facilities. Visitors should take out an expatriate health insurance plan that covers medical evacuation prior to arriving in the country as evacuation services can be costly if required in the event of a medical emergency.

Pharmaceutical sales and distribution is closely monitored in Kyrgyzstan and are most medicines are imported from Russia. The manufacturing standard may not be equal to the drugs produced in Western countries and the selection available may be more limited. It is recommended that you bring sufficient medications with you to last your stay. If you need to visit a pharmacy while in Kyrgyzstan the following are recommended, Prestige (telephone: 621 462), Neman (telephone: 216 792) and Central Pharmacy (telephone: 681 005).

Kyrgyzstan Travel Insurance Concerns

Kyrgyzstan is constantly involved in strife and political turmoil but typically this involves locals and not tourists. Travellers should be careful around bars and night clubs and women should not travel alone as they may fall victim to “bride kidnapping”. Be careful when crossing the street and walking around the country as the pavement has many holes and accidents do occur. Also avoid touching stray animals as they may be carriers of disease.

The usual petty street crimes occur in Kyrgyzstan as they do in many other countries. Pick pocketing occurs in crowded markets, internet cafes and on public transport. Travellers should arrange their own transportation from the airport to avoid being grossly overcharged. Gypsy taxis should be avoided in the cities, instead taxis should be ordered. Public transport should not be taken after dark.

Most of the local trade in Kyrgyzstan takes place in small village kiosks and in bazaars. There is a scarcity of common items in remote villages. The currency is the som which can be exchanged for major currencies at banks and money changers. Notes should be in near mint condition and dated post the year 2001 or they will not be accepted for exchange into som. Cash is king in Kyrgyzstan as credit cards are rarely accepted. The capital city of Bishkek has ATMs as well as some other towns, however most only accept Visa. Other cards can be used at Kazkommerts bank ATMs. Many types of vodka can be purchased in Kyrgyzstan as introduced by Russia. As a rule of thumb, the cheaper the vodka, the worse the hangover the next day. Many locals rent out their flats to foreigners at a reasonable rate. Alternatively you may wish to live like a local and sleep in a yurta, which is a boiled woollen tent used by nomads.

Transportation is difficult in Kyrgyzstan due to the mountainous terrain. Horses are the preferred method of transport as many roads cross international boundaries and are victims of mud slides and snow avalanches. Renting a car and self driving is virtually unheard of. A major road has recently been completed linking the capital city of Bishek to the large city of Osh. Minibuses and shared taxis are the most common means of road transportation around the country and are very inexpensive. You can also arrange a private taxi if you prefer or opt to bicycle.

Travellers to Kyrgyzstan should be vaccinated against tetanus/diphtheria, hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B, polio, measles/mumps/rubella and rabies (if they intend on spending a lot of time outdoors or coming into contact with animals).

The country had an outbreak of malaria in December 2008, however currently there have not been any cases of it reported. It is not imperative to take malaria tablets although visitors should be careful in the south and west near Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which due have malaria. An outbreak of brucellosis also incurred in December 2008, it is passed on by animals, predominantly cattle, goats and sheep through contact with them and unpasteurised dairy products. Anthrax outbreaks also frequently occur, the most recent being in September 2010. It is contracted from handling infected animals, their hides, hair, wool or meat.

Visitors to Kyrgyzstan should bring a first aid kit with them and any medications they require during their stay. Medical facilities are very limited and medications such as insulin and pain medications are often not available. Precautions should be taken to protect yourself from malaria such as using an insect repellent with DEET, wearing long sleeved clothing and pants and sleeping with windows closed or a mosquito net over the bed.

If you require emergency assistance in Kyrgyzstan an ambulance can be contacted by telephoning 103 for a city ambulance or 151 for a commercial ambulance. The police can be reached by telephoning 102 and the fire brigade by telephoning 101.

Kyrgyzstan Expat Health Insurance

It is highly recommended that you purchase expat medical insurance for Kyrgyzstan before travelling there. As the medical facilities are poor and medications are limited we advise you to bring all medicines you require with you as well as a first aid kit. Medical evacuation should also be included in your policy. Please contact our highly trained professionals at Expat Medical Insurance today for a free quotation.