Factors increasing survival of patients with cervical cancer in the Kyrgyz Republic

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cervical cancer holds the 2nd rank place among oncological diseases of the female reproductive system. In the Kyrgyz Republic, primary incidence of malignant neoplasms of the cervix has been established to be high with an ascending trend identified in 2021. Mortality from cervical cancer in general falls on the most able-bodied age from 45 to 59 years. Therefore, there are significant reserves for reducing mortality from malignant neoplasms, which is important in organizing cancer care and planning targeted prevention programs.
A regional analysis of the dynamics of 5-year survival of patients with cervical cancer in the Kyrgyz Republic was carried out according to statistics from the National Center for Oncology and Hematology of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic for the period 2016–2024.

The analysis results revealed that in the Kyrgyz Republic as a whole, survival remained relatively stable, ranging from 38.7 to 36.9 %, with a peak in 2021. In all years of follow-up, the survival rate in patients with cervical cancer exceeded the average rates by 2–6 %, which indicates more favorable outcomes of this disease with timely detection and complex treatment.

The highest survival rates were recorded in the Naryn region; the lowest, in the Jalal-Abad, Osh and Issyk-Kul regions of the republic. At the same time, in 2022–2024, there was a decrease in average survival rate to 35.5 %.

In the Kyrgyz Republic as a whole, the Family Medicine Centers have 67.25 positions of oncologists, of which 58.0 are occupied and 9.25 are vacant; 36 of employed doctors are true oncologists. In total, there are 572 cancer beds in the republic. With the population of 7,281,800 as of January 1, 2025, the provision of cancer beds is 0.7 per 10,000 people.

The lack of oncologists at the primary level and low provision of beds leads to late diagnosis and a decrease in effectiveness of treatment. Expansion of prevention is an additional factor in improving prognosis in cervical cancer, including increased human papillomavirus vaccination coverage. In the Kyrgyz Republic, vaccination against the human papillomavirus has been introduced in girls aged 11 since 2022, but in the same year girls aged 12–14 years were also vaccinated. In the republic, there is an increase in vaccination coverage to 70.4 % in the I-III quarters of 2025.

Strengthening human resources and implementing prevention programs are considered key factors in improving survival in cervical malignancies.