Announcing similar big policies and accepting national programs for the future prosperity of the country is very widespread in Turkmenistan. However, whether this particular program has served its purpose and brought tangible results within a decade or not is an interesting mixture of developments so far.

The Turkmen radio service continually airs that reconstruction of the healthcare system in Turkmenistan is being carried out at two modes: the physical and spiritual levels. Ever since the Health Program was declared, new hospitals and diagnostic centers are being built at all levels in the regions of the country, though with continuous layoffs of nurses. A particular emphasis is being made on medical treatment and introducing prophylactic measures by using herbal methods reminiscent of old Turkmen traditions. “With the help of natural herbs, it is even possible to cure people from cancer, AIDS and many other serious diseases,” says a self-made healer, Kerim Aga who has been healing people for years now. In a personal interview, Kerim Aga told that when certain mountainous herbs are mixed and boiled together, one can get a cure for more than 600 illnesses at a time.

Within the framework of the Health Program’s goals, a couple of years ago Turkmenbashi ordered the construction of the “Saglyk” road on top of the hills in the vicinities of capital city Ashgabat. This 25 km grandiose marbled road was built by 25 ministries (each per km), and serves as a highpoint in sightseeing for visitors and local residents of the capital. Many people walk along the “Saglyk” road to get the special feeling that the President says it has. President Niyazov also gives his Cabinet members personal directives to climb up the road to become and remain physically fit and healthy. Every higher educational establishment or university in Ashgabat has its own appointed day when the students also have to climb up the “Saglyk” road.

As to the spiritual level, every person is expected to read the Ruhnama to become spiritually healthy and stay away from the so-called corrupt way of thinking and behavior. To strengthen the grip of this discipline, smoking was officially prohibited in all the public areas in Turkmenistan. According to the National Institute of Statistics, the lifespan of an average Turkmen has increased to almost 70 years by now. This average life expectancy is expected to reach the age of 75 according to the National Program for Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan until the year 2010.

Amid the changes in healthcare, Mr. Niyazov reportedly sacked 15,000 nurses and other medical service employees lately, and replaced them with soldiers from the Turkmen army. For clarity’s sake about any possible misperceptions regarding the replacement of nurses with soldiers, an observation in many hospitals including military ones in the northeastern parts of the country was made. On the basis of this small-scale observation, it was also possible to establish that the soldiers are not commissioned to carry out the duties of nurses as the reverse was earlier reported in certain foreign newspaper sources. Instead, soldiers are used as cheap labor doing basic chores such as cleaning up and guarding the hospitals.

This time, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the program, Mr. Niyazov received officials of foreign firms, recognized international organizations and a number of letters in support of his national program. Mr. Agravala, head of the Indian firm Ajanta Ltd, the monopolist in providing pharmaceutical medicaments in Turkmenistan, noted that Turkmenistan has managed to make root changes during the last years in healthcare. On this very occasion, Mr. John How, President of HOPE project in Turkmenistan, also sent his own letter of support to Turkmenbashi. The HOPE project has been operating in Turkmenistan for five years on the control of tuberculosis. Josje Reinartz, director of the international humanitarian NGO “Doctors Without Borders” (MSF) also expressed the firm’s satisfaction with the bilateral work done so far. Besides, selected doctors and nurses nationwide were also brought to Ashgabat to participate in a two-day conference regarding the “Saglyk” Program. Overall, the celebration of the anniversary turned to a historical event in Turkmenistan. As to future possible reforms in healthcare, that remains to be seen.