LocationsNookat, Kyrgyz Republic, 19 May 2026 — Testing has been successfully completed for the new medical oxygen production station at the Territorial Hospital of Nookat District in Osh region, and the facility is now fully ready for operation. A presentation ceremony was held today with the participation of representatives of local authorities, hospital management, and the UNDP team.
Testing Completed for Medical Oxygen Production Station in Nookat — Facility Ready for Operation
May 19, 2026
UNDP Kyrgyzstan
The project was implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, with financial support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. It was developed in response to the vulnerabilities in the healthcare system exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, when the shortage of medical oxygen became one of the most acute challenges facing hospitals across the country — particularly in remote areas.
Nookat District is one of the most densely populated in the south of the country, with over 330,000 residents and 605 hospital beds. Previously, the hospital was entirely dependent on oxygen supplies from abroad. The new station changes this: it produces certified medical oxygen on-site — approximately 100-150 cylinders per day — and is capable of supplying not only Nookat Hospital, but three to four neighbouring districts as well. The economic impact is immediate: where oxygen previously cost the hospital 32 million soms per year, it now costs approximately 3.7 million — nearly a tenfold reduction.
“For the Nookat district, the station has of strategic importance. It is a contribution to the safety and resilience of the entire regional healthcare system. Our hospital will now be able to provide patients with life-saving medical oxygen in a timely manner, without depending on external supplies. It is especially important that the new station will also support neighboring districts, strengthening access to medical care for people in the south of the country,”— said Kubatali Azimbaev, Director of the Nookat Territorial Hospital
“The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how critical uninterrupted access to medical oxygen is for saving lives. Today, we are seeing not just new equipment, but a sustainable solution that strengthens the healthcare system at the local level, reduces dependence on external supplies, and improves the hospital’s preparedness for future challenges. For UNDP, it is important that this station will serve not only the residents of Nookat, but also neighboring districts, ensuring access to life-saving medical care for thousands of people,”— said Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.
Equipment assembled in Germany extracts oxygen from the air and pumps it under pressure into certified cylinders. The capacity is approximately 1,200 cubic meters per day. The service life is at least 10 years. The cost of one cylinder is approximately 100 soms, compared to 250 soms for non-certified suppliers.
Hospital doctors note that oxygen points are now available in almost every ward, including the emergency department. Critically ill patients can be stabilised within 2–3 days, and a full course of treatment without complications takes approximately 12 days. Last year, 2,500 children in the district were treated for pneumonia — all of whom required oxygen. The hospital is now fully equipped to meet that need. The station will be transferred to state ownership. A sustainability plan will be developed in partnership with the hospital, and district and regional administrations to ensure its long-term operation.
For media enquiries, please contact: Ainagul Abdrakhmanova, Head of Communications, +996 770 183 493 ainagul.abdrakhmanova@undp.org
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