A group of Jogorku Kenesh deputies has initiated amendments to the Family Code of the Kyrgyz Republic to oblige citizens to undergo a medical examination before concluding a marriage. The initiative addresses the health of future spouses and their potential risks.
How the procedure will change and for whom it matters
Although the current Article 16 of the Family Code already provides for the possibility of such an examination, it remains purely advisory. The authors of the bill note that because of this, many couples ignore this procedure, learning about hidden diseases only after registering their marriage.
- The initiative is aimed at early detection of infectious and hereditary diseases.
- Particular attention is given to the prevention of HIV, viral hepatitis (B, C, D) and sexually transmitted infections.
- The examination will also make it possible to detect genetic and hereditary pathologies, which is important when planning a family.
It is planned that the examination will be funded by the state and conducted in state healthcare organizations. Approval of the scope and procedure for conducting the examination will remain with the Cabinet of Ministers. It is important to note that the bill does not aim to restrict citizens' right to start a family.
What will happen to the results and how voluntariness will be preserved
Medical test results will be confidential and communicated only to the person examined. At the same time, the voluntary procedure for registering a marriage in special circumstances is preserved, for example, on the day of application, if the marriage is registered due to pregnancy, the birth of a joint child or a threat to life.
From the document
The main task is to inform future spouses about the risks in advance.
According to the National Statistical Committee, around 45–50 thousand marriages are registered in the country annually, which underscores the relevance of this measure for raising overall medical awareness.
