A bill to toughen penalties for attacks on or pressure against medical workers has been published for public consideration in Kyrgyzstan, 24.KG reported.
Up to eight years in prison
According to the draft law, the punishment will depend on the consequences. Fines of 20,000 to 100,000 soms ($228 to $1,143) or correctional labor are provided for unlawful actions. If an attack results in serious consequences, the punishment may be imprisonment for up to eight years.
Administrative penalties for insults and pressure on medical personnel are also being introduced; violators will face fines of up to 10,000 soms ($114).
The authors of the initiative hope that these measures will help reduce aggression against healthcare workers and ensure safer working conditions.
The draft document is currently available for public comment and, after revision, may be submitted to the Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council).
Attacks on medical workers in Kyrgyzstan
Although there are no official statistics on attacks on medical workers in Kyrgyzstan, authorities and representatives of the medical community report that such cases are increasing.
In 2024, a significant spike in violence against medical personnel was reported. Against this backdrop, 14 doctors at the National Hospital of the Ministry of Health resigned, citing unsafe working conditions. In 2025, the situation remained unchanged: high-profile incidents continued, including physical attacks on medical workers while on duty.
Some healthcare institutions maintain their own statistics. According to the Bishkek Emergency Medicine Center, an average of 18 attacks is reported per year. This includes not only physical assaults but also systematic threats, pressure and insults directed at doctors and paramedics.
Kazakhstan’s example
On March 7, 2026, strict legislative measures to protect healthcare workers entered into force in Kazakhstan. Under these measures, assaults on doctors, paramedics and ambulance drivers are punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
Threats of violence are punishable by a fine of 200 to 500 monthly calculation indices (MCI), up to 300 hours of correctional or community service, or restriction of freedom or imprisonment for up to two years. If such actions are committed under aggravating circumstances, the punishment may increase to up to three years’ restriction of freedom or imprisonment.
Violence that does not pose a threat to life or health is punishable by a fine of 500 to 1,000 MCI, up to 600 hours of correctional or community service, or imprisonment for two to three years. If the violence poses a threat to life or health, the punishment is five to ten years in prison, and seven to twelve years under aggravating circumstances.
