Event highlights
From 10 to 15 October 2025, a technical mission of experts from the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) was conducted in Turkmenistan. Organized by the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan, the mission aimed to advance the prevention and treatment of chronic respiratory diseases, with a particular focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
During the visit, WHO/Europe Technical Officer on noncommunicable disease (NCD) management Elena Tsoy and WHO/Europe expert Nino Maglakelidze participated in the international scientific and practical conference titled “Health care, education and sports in the era of revival of the new epoch of the Powerful State,” held in honour of Health and Medical Industry Workers’ Day. The mission was part of a broader initiative under the project titled “Procurement of medicines and health products through the United Nations Development Programme to combat NCDs in Turkmenistan.”
The team of experts collaborated closely with national counterparts to revise clinical guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, ensuring alignment with the latest evidence-based practices. A key focus of the mission was strengthening of team-based care by co-developing and designing patient-centred clinical pathways for both conditions. These efforts supported improvements in diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of chronic respiratory diseases across the country.
WHO experts conducted sessions on pulmonology and allergology, as well as seminars on supportive supervision, clinical audit and baseline assessment at the International Scientific and Clinical Center of Physiology. Practical sessions were held at pilot medical facilities in Ashgabat and Türkmenabat, including the Lebap Velayat Multidisciplinary Medical Center and selected primary health care facilities. These sessions aimed to build local capacity in quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement of respiratory care services.
The mission concluded with a meeting of the national working group to review findings and define next steps for scaling up best practices nationwide. This collaborative initiative demonstrated WHO’s continued commitment to supporting Turkmenistan in its efforts to combat NCDs and build a resilient, patient-centred health system.