Kyrgyzstan to allow kidney transplants for foreigners

The Kyrgyz government is taking steps to promote medical tourism by permitting kidney transplants for foreign patients, 24.kz reports, citing Health Minister Erkin Checheibayev.

«Kidney transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients on dialysis. Expanding this sector will reduce the burden on the healthcare system and significantly improve patients’ quality of life. We are working on a regulatory framework to ensure sustainable funding and fair wages for healthcare professionals,» Checheibayev stated.

He further emphasized that this service will soon be accessible to international patients traveling to Kyrgyzstan for medical treatment.

«We are also exploring the possibility of performing transplants for foreign citizens as part of medical tourism. This could serve as an additional funding source for healthcare facilities specializing in high-tech surgeries,» he added.

In neighboring Kazakhstan, more than 4,000 patients are currently awaiting kidney transplants. In 2024 alone, the country reported 250 transplant procedures — 227 from living donors and 23 from deceased donors.