WHO/Europe and the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic are organizing the Central Asia International Health Investment Forum in Kyrgyzstan, on 26–27 June 2024. Under the patronage of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Forum will create a high-level platform to:  

• highlight the value of investing in health and the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in Central Asia, endorsed by the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as a driver for sustainable development; 
• discuss best practices to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 – ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages – across Central Asia; and  
• facilitate new partnerships for investment projects and technical assistance for health.  

Bringing together key international, regional and national political and financial stakeholders, the Forum aims to result in:  

• a clear commitment to increased investments in health in Central Asia to accelerate progress towards SDG 3; and
• a new multistakeholder partnership group overseeing the implementation of this commitment.    

Making the case for health: the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in Central Asia 2022–2025

Central Asia, home to 76.5 million people, is a unique region full of great potential and tradition of bridging Europe and Asia. In 2022, the 5 countries of Central Asia – the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan – agreed on the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in Central Asia, the first health and well-being strategy in the region. A year later, it was included in the Outcome Document of the 5th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held on 14 September 2023 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 

Investments in health: a key to accelerate progress towards SDG 3 

Looking ahead, countries have only 6 years left to meet the ambitious 2030 SDG targets, including SDG 3. Central Asian countries are moving decisively towards the SDGs, but the shocks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and other international crises have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities of their economies and health systems.  

Financing health will advance progress on SDG 3. It requires the efficient and strategic use of existing resources, as well as new investments.    

Participants 

Participants will be able to join the Forum by invitation. The invitees include: 

• representatives from the 5 Central Asian countries 
• UN and EU organizations and other intergovernmental organizations  
• development agencies  
• regional organizations 
• multilateral development banks and other financial institutions.