Development of the national economy in 2017 took place in the context of recovery of economic activity in the main trading partner countries of the Kyrgyz Republic against the background of a global economic recovery and reduction of geopolitical risks in the region.
Activities of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic were aimed at a timely and high-quality implementation of the Action Plan of the “Trust and Unity” Government Program of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2017 (Resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic of January 30, 2017, No. 53) and the Priority Action Plan of the “Zhany Doorgo Kyrk Kadam 2018-2023” Government Program of the Kyrgyz Republic (Order of the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic of 7 November 2017, No. 609).
At the end of 2017, economic growth comprised 104.5 percent, while gross domestic product (hereinafter referred to as GDP) was equal to KGS 493.3 billion. The rate of real GDP growth was 104.5 percent, excluding enterprises developing the Kumtor deposit.1

The health sector

Within the framework of implementing the Government Program of the Kyrgyz Republic, priority tasks in the field of healthcare for 2017 were the following:
- ensuring universal access to healthcare;
- involvement of other sectors of the economy and social sphere in the protection and promotion of the population’s health;
- implementation of comprehensive measures to improve health indicators, taking into account social, economic, and cultural factors and the integration of health issues into sectoral programs;
- implementation of the Action Plan of the Health Protection and Promotion Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2020 (Health 2020) (Resolution of the
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic of March 16, 2015, No. 106-p);
- further implementation of the “Den Sooluk” National Health Reform Program of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2012-2018 (Resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic of 11.05.2017 No. 267);
- implementation of the e-Health Program of the Kyrgyz Republic for 20162020 and the creation of the National Database of Drugs and Medical Products (Decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic of March 18, 2016, No. 134).

At the end of 2017, gross domestic product amounted to KGS 521 billion, and the real growth rate was 104.6%. Per capita expenditures amounted to KGS 2953 ($42.6) in 2017.
As a percentage of total government expenditures, healthcare expenditure amounted to 13% in 2017, achieving the 13% target value set by the “Den Sooluk” Reform Program for 2016-2018.

Table 1. Public expenditures in 2017

Demographic situation

The average annual number of resident population in the Kyrgyz Republic as of 01.12.2017 comprised 6 193.4 thousand people. In the age structure of the population, children (0–14 years old) amount to 31.8%, people of working age to 59.3%, and people over working age to 7.1%.
In 2017, the child mortality rate was 18.6 per 1,000 live births, which is 8.7% lower than in 2016 (19.7 per 1,000 live births). The infant mortality rate in 2017 was 15.6 per 1,000 live births, which is 7.7% lower than in 2016 (16.7 per 1,000 live births). The maternal mortality rate in 2017 was 31.2 per 100,000 live births; there is an increase of 3.6% compared to the previous year (30.1 per 100,000 births) in 2016.
The incidence rate of tuberculosis in the Kyrgyz Republic is showing a downward trend. In 2017, 90.4 cases were registered per 100,000 population against 93.4 per 100 thousand population in 2016. TB mortality rate in the country also tends to gradually decline in recent years. In 2017, the mortality rate in the country was 5.2 per 100,000 population, against 5.6 per 100,000 population in 2016.
In 2017, results of a self-assessment of the main operational functions of public health in the Kyrgyz Republic were presented. The results were discussed during the Intersectoral Meeting at the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic; the first draft of this material was released with the WHO support. Specific activities have been planned that will be included in the Action Plan of the 2030 Health Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic to promote and strengthen public health service of the republic in the prevention of communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
Thirty-eight (38) nosologies of infectious and parasitic diseases are being monitored in the republic. Thanks to the preventive and anti-epidemic measures, a decrease in the incidence of 17 nosoforms was noted, including: meningitis - by 3.9 times, parotitis - by 43.7%, anthrax - by 33.3%, tick-borne viral encephalitis - by 33.3%, whooping cough - by 31.9%, gonorrhea - by 31.8%, pediculosis - by 27.6%, syphilis - by 19.1%, scabies - by 18.4%, echinococcosis – by 16.3%, typhoid fever - by 14.3%, viral hepatitis C - by 7.7%, tuberculosis - by 4.2%, brucellosis - by 0.6%. Cases of rabies, measles were not registered. There is a decrease in the incidence rate of vaccine-preventable infections. Despite the ongoing preventive measures, there is an increase in the incidence of viral hepatitis A and B, acute intestinal infections, AEIs and influenza, and HIV.
On August 2, 2017, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic signed and the Jogorku Kenesh approved the laws “On the Circulation of Medicines” No. 165, “On the Circulation of Medical Products” No. 166, “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts on the Circulation of Medicines and Medical Products” No. 167.

Table 2. Health at a glance, 2017