Health facilities in Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan’s second-largest city, are relying heavily on doctors of retirement age because there are not enough young specialists to replace them, reported Hronika.tm.
According to the independent outlet, hospital and clinic managers recall retired specialists and persuade older colleagues to stay on. “There is no one to fully replace them,” it wrote. Since early November, two doctors at Polyclinic No. 2 have died, reportedly because of their advanced age. Most remaining staff work one and a half to two full-time positions, but those on a double load earn only about 30% more. A doctor’s monthly salary for one position is 2,000–3,300 manats (about $110–180 at the market rate).
Medical workers are also required to contribute money towards hiring cotton pickers, holiday events and subscriptions to state periodicals. Many young graduates of medical schools reportedly emigrate for better pay. The authorities have announced new projects, including an oncology centre in Turkmenabat and a multi-profile hospital in Kerki in Lebap province.
The report highlights the gap between Ashgabat’s showcase construction of new hospitals and the shortage of staff to work in them. Independent information from Turkmenistan is scarce, and the government does not publish data on medical staffing.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
November 10, 2026