Healthcare in Turkmenistan

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Life expectancy development in Turkmenistan by gender Life expectancy by WBG -Turkmenistan -diff.png
Life expectancy development in Turkmenistan by gender

Healthcare in Turkmenistan encompasses a number of institutions and practices throughout the country of Turkmenistan. In the post-Soviet era, reduced funding has put the health system in poor condition. In 2002 Turkmenistan had 50 hospital beds per 10,000 population, less than half the number in 1996. Overall policy has targeted specialized inpatient facilities to the detriment of basic, outpatient care. Since the late 1990s, many rural facilities have closed, making care available principally in urban areas. President Niyazov’s 2005 proposal to close all hospitals outside Ashgabat intensified this trend. Physicians are poorly trained, modern medical techniques are rarely used, and medications are in short supply. Doctors and pharmacists were required to study the works of Avicenna and tested on their knowledge of Saparmyrat Niyazov's spiritual writings, the Ruhnama. [1] In 2004 Niyazov dismissed 15,000 medical professionals, exacerbating the shortage of personnel. In some cases, professionals have been replaced by military conscripts. Private health care is rare, as the state maintains a near monopoly. Free public health care was abolished in 2004. [2]

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Niyazov's successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was a dentist, and took a rather more positive approach to healthcare. Money was invested to modernize the health-care sector, building "gleaming" new medical facilities. [3] He initiated an annual Month of Health and Sports, which involved people throughout the country taking long walks in parks and compulsory physical fitness classes at workplaces. $56 million was spent on an ophthalmology complex in Ashgabat and $47 million in a traumatology centre. The rural hospitals reopened, but they had severe shortages of the most basic medical equipment and hygiene standards were poor. Theoretically the state-funded health insurance covers part of the cost of hospital treatment and medication in public medical facilities, but there are widespread reports of bribery and corruption. [4] There is an acute shortage of clinical staff and political pressure, for example discouraging from diagnoses of HIV . [5]

Medical tourism

There is a considerable flow of medical tourism from patients looking for more reliable health systems. [6] Citizens and residents of Turkmenistan who can afford to go abroad for medical care often engage in medical tourism to Iran, Russia, India, and Turkey. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Turkmenistan</span> Aspect of history

The history of Turkmenistan traditionally began with the arrival of Indo-European Iranian tribes around 2000 BC. Early tribes were nomadic or semi-nomadic due to the arid conditions of the region, preventing widespread adoption of agriculture. The steppe culture in Central Asia was an extension of a larger Eurasian series of horse cultures which spanned the entire spectrum of language families, including the Indo-Europeans and Turko-Mongol groups. Some of the known early Iranian tribes included the Massagatae, the Scythians/Sakas, and early Soghdians, who were most likely precursors of the Khwarezmians. Turkmenistan was a passing point for numerous migrations and invasions by tribes, which gravitated towards the settled regions of the south, including ancient Mesopotamia, Elam, and the Indus Valley civilization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Turkmenistan</span> Political system of Turkmenistan

The politics of Turkmenistan nominally takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Turkmenistan is nominally both head of state and head of government. However, as of 21 January 2023 a "national leader" was appointed who chairs an independent People's Council (viz.) with authority to amend the constitution, and who exercises supreme political authority. No true opposition parties are allowed; every registered political party supports the third and current President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The country is frequently described as a totalitarian state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Turkmenistan</span>

The economy of Turkmenistan continues to recover from the 2014 downturn in hydrocarbon prices, but remains "in the grip of its worst economic crisis since the immediate post-independence period, driven in part by low gas prices, the suspension of gas exports to Russia between 2016 and 2019...and poor harvests." Former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at a session of the Cabinet of Ministers on March 11, 2021, called the rate of GDP growth unsatisfactory. When discussing the 2021 government budget, he noted that 2021 would be "as difficult" a year as 2020 had been.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Turkmenistan</span> Overview of the foreign relations of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan's declaration of "permanent neutrality" was formally recognized by the United Nations in 1995. Former President Niyazov stated that the neutrality would prevent Turkmenistan from participating in multi-national defense organizations, but allows military assistance. Its neutral foreign policy has an important place in the country's constitution. Although the Government of Turkmenistan claims to favour trade with and export to the United States, and Turkey, its single largest commercial partner is China, which buys the vast bulk of Turkmen natural gas via the Central Asia–China gas pipeline. Turkmenistan has significant commercial relationships with Russia and Iran and growing cross-border trade with Afghanistan. The Government of Turkmenistan often appears to use the conflicting interests of these regional powers as a means to extract concessions, especially on energy issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashgabat</span> Capital of Turkmenistan

Ashgabat or Asgabat, formerly named Poltoratsk between 1919 and 1927, is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. It lies between the Karakum Desert and the Kopetdag mountain range in Central Asia, near the Iran-Turkmenistan border. The city has a population of 1,030,063.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkmenistan</span> Country in Central Asia

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ashgabat is the capital and largest city. It is one of the six independent Turkic states. With a population of 6.5 million, Turkmenistan is the 35th most-populous country in Asia and has the lowest population of the Central Asian republics while being one of the most sparsely populated nations on the Asian continent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic</span> Constituent republic of the Soviet Union (1925–1991)

The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, also known as Soviet Turkmenistan, the Turkmen SSR, Turkmenistan, or Turkmenia, was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union located in Central Asia existed as a republic from 1925 to 1991. Initially, on 7 August 1921, it was established as the Turkmen Oblast of the Turkestan ASSR before being made, on 13 May 1925, a separate republic of the USSR as the Turkmen SSR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Turkmenistan</span> Overview of human rights in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan's human rights record has been heavily criticized by various countries and scholars worldwide. Standards in education and health declined markedly during the rule of President Saparmurat Niyazov.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry for National Security (Turkmenistan)</span>

The Ministry for National Security or MNS is the secret police agency for the government of Turkmenistan. It is composed largely of the remnants of KGB organs left over after the collapse of the Soviet Union; its functions remain largely the same as well. The MNB and the national police force are under the direction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Until 2002, it was known as the KNB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Healthcare in Malaysia</span>

Healthcare in Malaysia is mainly under the Ministry of Health. Malaysia generally has an efficient and widespread system of health care, operating a two-tier health care system consisting of both a government base universal healthcare system and a co-existing private healthcare system. While there is a universal healthcare system, specialist services require queuing despite being free. Hence the private health care plays a major role in providing specialist services which complements the universal health care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Turkmenistan</span> Overview of and topical guide to Turkmenistan

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Turkmenistan:

The 1948 Ashgabat earthquake was on 6 October with a surface wave magnitude of 7.3 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), in Turkmenistan near Ashgabat. Due to censorship by the Soviet government, the event was not widely reported in the USSR's media. Historians tend to agree that the ban on reporting the extent of the casualties and damage did not allow the Soviet government to allocate enough financial resources to respond adequately. It was the strongest earthquake recorded in Turkmenistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Republic of Uzbekistan has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Tashkent. Both countries were previously subordinated republics of the Soviet Union as Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic and Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic before its collapse in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saparmurat Niyazov</span> 1st President of Turkmenistan (1940–2006)

Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov, also known as Türkmenbaşy, was a Turkmen politician who ruled Turkmenistan from 1985 until his death in 2006. He was first secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party from 1985 until 1991 and supported the 1991 Soviet coup attempt. He continued to rule Turkmenistan for 15 years after independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Turkmenistan-related articles</span>

The list of Turkmenistan-related articles is below

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railways Agency of Turkmenistan</span> Turkmen government agency

The Railways Agency of Turkmenistan (Turkmen: "Türkmendemirýollary" agentligi, previously the Ministry of Railways, is a government agency in Turkmenistan responsible for oversight of the state rail corporation "Demirýollary" AGPJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkmen Ground Forces</span> Military unit

The Turkmen Ground Forces is the army branch of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. The ground forces include the 2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 22nd Motor Rifle Divisions as well as smaller units consisting of various types of troops.

Magtymguly Avenue, transliterated from Russian as Makhtumkuli, is an avenue in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. It is considered to be the longest and most prominent avenue in the capital

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkmen military academies</span>

The Armed Forces of Turkmenistan currently funds 2 high ranking educational institutions: The Military Academy of Turkmenistan and the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan. Aside from those two schools, there are several military schools around the country, specializing in the training of personnel of a branches of service. In the early 1990s when the armed forces were rapidly being developed, many officers were trained in the Russian Federation's Ministry of Defense, while at least 300 officers were sent to schools in Turkey. On 3 October 1992, the Turkmen State University created the first Turkmen educational department. This article lists institutions of the Turkmen Armed Forces based on its respective agency and service branch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk of Health</span> Hiking trail in Turkmenistan

The Walk of Health is a 36-kilometre (22 mi) long concrete walkway that runs alongside the Kopet Dag mountain range in south Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, near the Iran–Turkmenistan border. The first 8 km (5.0 mi) of the path was constructed in 1999 by dictator Saparmurat Niyazov, with the intent of encouraging citizens to be healthy. It officially opened on 2 January 2000. Until Niyazov's death, he required his ministers to walk the walkway once every year.

References

  1. "Grim reality of Turkmen health care". BBC. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  2. Turkmenistan country profile. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (February 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Pictures Of Health: Real State Of Turkmen Medical Care A Far Cry From Official Images". Radio Free Europe. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  4. "Real State Of Turkmen Medical Care A Far Cry From Official Images". Radio Free Europe. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  5. "Hope for health in Turkmenistan?". Lancet. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  6. "Turkmenistan healthcare in coma". Fergana News. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  7. Почти 800 граждан Туркменистана за три месяца прибыли на лечение в Иран (in Russian), Turkmen.News, 5 September 2023
  8. Mashhad expects travel boom as Iran relaxes COVID rules, Tehran Times, 3 September 2023
  9. Индия остается популярным направлением медицинского туризма для туркменистанцев (in Russian), RFE/RL, 26 October 2022
  10. Туркменистан: Преодолевая преграды, люди едут лечиться за рубеж (in Russian), Alternative News of Turkmenistan, 3 September 2018
  11. Healthcare in Turkmenistan, BEARR Trust, 24 February 2020