Kyrgyzstan: Hospital Abuses Documented

A series of recently released reports has found that patients from marginalized sectors of society face routine harassment and discrimination in hospitals and clinics across Kyrgyzstan.

The four reports are based on research data gathered by Kyrgyz non-governmental organizations that work with marginalized groups, including people with physical and mental disabilities, sex workers, and drug users.

Research was conducted in Bishkek, Osh, Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul provinces and that revealed medical workers often deny care to people in need, insult members of marginalized groups. At the same time, medical workers themselves struggle to survive on low wages and work under difficult circumstances, in which they lack basic equipment and medicines.

A report issued by Ravenstvo, an NGO working with people with physical disabilities in Issyk-Kul Province, uncovered abuse of disabled patients, including forced sterilization. For example, a 33-year-old woman with spinal injuries was sterilized without her consent after she had given birth to a healthy child.

Researchers for the NGO Aman Plus found widespread discrimination by medical staff against drugs users. Another non-profit, Diaron, documented violations of the rights of people with mental health problems in Jalal-Abad Province, finding that doctors fail to adequately inform patients about their medical conditions or discuss treatment.

A report by the organization Musaada found that emergency workers sometimes discriminate in their decisions about whom to assist. In many cases, emergency services refuse to send ambulances to respond to calls concerning drug overdoses. When sex workers call for emergency treatment, ambulances can be slow to arrive, and emergency services workers occasionally demand payment for services that are supposed to be free, according to the report.

The reports were prepared with assistance provided by the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan, which is part of a network of philanthropic foundations established by George Soros. [Editor's Note: EurasiaNet operates under the auspices of the Open Society Institute in New York, which is also part of the Soros foundations network].

"These investigations paint a picture of an unaccountable health care system where disturbing abuses against members of vulnerable groups are allowed to go unchecked," said Jonathan Cohen, director of the Law and Health Initiative of the Open Society Institute. "Health systems should be places where human rights are fulfilled, not violated."