A delegation of Russian medical specialists from the “RZD-Medicine” network of clinics visited Turkmenistan as part of the international volunteer program “Mission Dobro.” Julia Balakina, Senior Inspector for Medical Prevention and Healthy Lifestyle of the Central Health Directorate of Russian Railways (RZD), spoke to the “GA” correspondent about the results of the trip.
Second trip, experience exchange, and clinical work
“This is our second trip to Turkmenistan within the framework of the international volunteer program ‘Mission Dobro.’ This time, the delegation consisted of six doctors from different clinics and healthcare institutions of the RZD-Medicine network. It was a great honor for the delegation to visit Turkmenistan again,” noted Julia Balakina.
During the mission, the Russian specialists visited several leading medical institutions in Ashgabat, including the International Center for the Treatment of Eye Diseases, the Hospital with the Scientific-Clinical Center of Cardiology, the Scientific-Clinical Center for Maternal and Child Health, and the International Rehabilitation Center.
A special emphasis in the exchange was placed on neurology. Unlike the previous year, this delegation included a neurologist—an addition made in response to a request from the Turkmen side. The specialist conducted numerous consultations for children with various conditions and delivered lectures on disorders of the speech apparatus in children.
Summing up the mission, our interlocutor reported that during the consultations, more than 120 patients were examined. Around six surgeries were performed by an ophthalmologist, a cardiac surgeon, and a gynecologist.
Medical case conferences were also organized. In particular, physician and Candidate of Medical Sciences Sergey Cheryomushkin conducted consilium sessions focused on diagnosing and identifying “hidden” diseases.
Educational сomponent
A significant part of the program involved teaching. The “RZD-Medicine” doctors gave lectures at the clinics they visited. The audience was diverse—from students of the State Medical University and department heads to practicing surgeons and department managers.
“It was very valuable to see that both students and doctors take their chosen profession very seriously. They actively engaged in discussions and asked highly specific questions. It was a great pleasure to see our Turkmen colleagues show such lively interest in new information,” shared Julia Balakina.
Perspective on equipment and future plans
The Russian doctors also familiarized themselves with the equipment used in Turkmen medical facilities, noting its high quality and technological level. “The technological outfitting of the centers is at a very high level. Simply put—we liked everything very much. The equipment, the architecture, the spacious facilities—all of it struck me. It is truly high-quality, efficient, beautiful, and impressive,” emphasized the RZD representative.
During a meeting at the Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan, gratitude was expressed for the hospitality and for the opportunity to visit again. The main agenda focused on continuing international cooperation.
The Russian side expressed hope for the conclusion of a relevant agreement between the RZD-Medicine clinic network and the Turkmen side. Future collaboration may include training programs and internships for doctors, specialized master classes, and the continuation of the lecture component.
“Both Russian and Turkmen doctors have a great interest in working together. Therefore, we hope that the meeting held at the Ministry will become the beginning of an integrated joint project that will bear good fruit in the future,” concluded Julia Balakina.
