On April 20, 2026, the 9th Meeting of Health Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States was held in Bishkek in a hybrid format under the chairmanship of the Kyrgyz side. The theme of the meeting was “Jointly Strengthening Health Systems and Building a Healthy Future in SCO States.”
The event was opened by the Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, Damirbek Osmonov, who emphasized the significance of the SCO countries’ efforts in ensuring the sustainability of national health systems and public health. He highlighted the role of digital technologies and innovative solutions in the healthcare sector.
Heads of delegations discussed pressing issues of cooperation, including disease prevention, treatment, and the improvement of healthcare delivery systems.
In his remarks SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sohail Khan stressed that cooperation in the field of healthcare is one of the Organization’s priorities, noted the importance of strengthening practical cooperation among member states, and drew attention to the need for consistent implementation of the agreements reached.
Following the meeting a protocol was signed. The parties supported the initiative of the Kyrgyz Chairmanship in the SCO to establish a dialogue platform for exchanging competencies in healthcare management as a tool for professional interaction.