OREANDA-NEWS. September 22, 2011. The International Conference on the Achievements of Medical Science and Education in the Epoch of New Revival was conducted in the Turkmen capital. The international forum was initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who pays priority attention to modernization of the national health care system. In accordance with Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan organized the forum to mark the 20th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan.

The international scientific conference brought together participants from 23 countries, including prominent scientists, health care professionals and industry workers in the Turkmen capital. Among them were the heads and specialists of the leading clinical research centres, international organisations, higher educational institutions and experts and specialists of the companies specializing in the development of new technologies in the education and health care spheres. Turkmenistan was represented by scientists and specialists of clinical research centres, teachers, postgraduate students and students of higher and special educational institutions and representatives of the organisations concerned from all the regions of the country.

The fact of holding the medical forum in Ashgabat testifies to the priority given to this sphere of life of the Turkmen state in the new historical epoch. “The health of the nation is the wealth of the country, the foundation for its wellbeing,” emphasizes President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The positive experience accumulated by Turkmenistan in modernising the national health care system has been recognized by the international community and the major international organisations, including the United Nations and its agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that Turkmenistan has been actively and fruitfully collaborating with for many years.

Evidence of it is the prestigious European Quality Award presented by the European Business Assembly to the State Medical University of Turkmenistan for the quality of educational services in compliance with European standards. Therefore, it is quite natural that the international forum focusing on the achievements in the sphere of medical science and health education was conducted at the State Medical University.

Forum participants visited the international medical centres which allowed them to learn more about the work carried out in our country to promote the health of people and adopt advanced educational technologies.

The cabinet ministers, deputies of Mejlis, heads and representatives of public organisations of the Galkynys National Movement, ministries and departments, clinical research centres, higher educational institutions, journalists, postgraduate students and students attended the forum opening ceremony, which took place in the conference hall of the State Medical University.

The welcome address of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to forum participants was presented during the opening ceremony. The Turkmen leader underlined the significant role of the forum in modernising the national health care system, accelerating the introduction of scientific and technological advanced in the process of training future medical specialists and expanding international cooperation in this sphere.

“The progress of any state in the era of scientific and technological advance depends to a larger extent on the adoption of latest technologies in all spheres of life, including health care, science and education, encouragement of the creative initiatives and training of highly qualified specialists. In the modern epoch Turkmenistan has chosen its national way in science-based planning of the health care system and medical industry, managing it and applying latest developments of world medicine”, said the Turkmen leader.

Professor Galina Perfilyeva, Regional Advisor of the WHO Regional Office for Europe greeted forum participants on behalf of the WHO Regional Office. She emphasized that the impressive pace of development and achievements of the health care system and education in Turkmenistan could serve as an example for many countries of the internationals community. Professor Stefan Lindgren, President of the World Federation for Medical Education, Professor David Gordon, the University of Copenhagen, Professor Ashiraly Zurdinov, Rector of the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Professor Aleksey Svistunov, Pro-rector of I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University presented the reports at the plenary session. The foreign specialists put emphasis on the positive role and topicality of the reforms initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the scientific and educational spheres.

The guests highly evaluated the scale of the changes, which had taken place in the health care system of Turkmenistan in recent years. They said that they were impressed by the large-scale construction of clinics, health care facilities, sanatoria, recreation and health improvement centres and educational institutions supplied with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technologies launched throughout the country. It was noted that Turkmenistan was gaining the valuable experience that was required to enhance competitiveness of Turkmen education and its integration into the world education system.

Particular attention was paid to the national model of the health care system in Turkmenistan. According to those speaking the positiveness of this model involved the integration of science, education and practical health care that, in its turn, would contribute to applying advanced technologies and innovations in medical practice and allow making the professional education process continuous.

Over 70 reports on various trends in development of the national medicine and education were delivered within the framework of the five section meetings. These included the modern trends in modern medical science and higher education, the medical education innovations and traditions; modern information and communication technologies in medical education; the role of training aids in teaching medical disciplines and many other topics.

It was noted that the opening of international medical centres, the new building complex of the State Medical University enabled to successfully introduce the advanced teaching methods at higher medical educational institutions, car train healthcare professionals in compliance with international standards and involve young specialists in developing the modern trends in scientific research.

A major part of the reports focused on the particular achievements in implementing the state health policy initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that provides for the strengthening of the material and technical basis of the sector, improvement of the quality of medical services rendered to the population and construction of new pharmaceutical enterprises manufacturing medicaments from medical herbs growing in Turkmenistan.

A book exposition dedicated to the history of the health care sphere in Turkmenistan was arranged in the foyer of the State Medical University. The research works by Doctor of Medicine, Professor President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a special place in the exhibition.

The ceremony of closing the International Conference on the Achievements of Medical Science and Education of the Epoch of New Revival took place in the afternoon. The forum participants called for continuing fruitful relations that promoted medical science and wide exchange of experiences in improving the training highly qualified medical specialists.

The participants of the International Conference on the Achievements of Medical Science and Education of the Epoch of New Revival expressed deep gratitude to the Turkmen leader for his tireless efforts to develop the national health care system. Thanking cordially for the high level of organisation of the forum, they assured the President of Turkmenistan that they would actively and effectively contribute to promoting the progressive changes of the epoch of new Revival.