Cardiology, cardio-surgery and telemedicine in Mongolia

In Mongolia, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a priority public health problem. This incited the government of Luxembourg to assist the government of Mongolia with the control of CVD, since the year 2001.

This project is the 5th phase of the intervention. The support started on strengthening the referral system of cardiology and cardio-vascular services, both at provincial and central levels, to adequately treat referred patients, and to reduce undue and costly medical referral services.

As compared to previous project phases, this project pays more attention to supporting the national action plan for prevention of CVD. Through the focus on prevention, the project is targeting some of the many determinant CVD such as lifestyle related factors (e.g. diet, smoking, alcohol abuse). Furthermore, South-South cooperation between Mongolia and Lao People's Democratic Republic is encouraged in order to harness Mongolia’s considerable experience in telemedicine and interventional cardiology.

The project aims to lower the case/fatality rate of cardiovascular diseases of different aetiologies (hypertension, coronary artery diseases, problems on valves following streptococcal infections and coronary ailments). This is in line with the Mongolian Sustainable development vision 2030, where it is stipulated under Objective 3: “To reduce the main non-communicable diseases, reduce health risk factors, and preventable deaths through an active and inclusive partnership of individuals, families, communities and organisations”.

The strengthening of the National Cardiac Centre (NCC) has been seen as the best option for ensuring sustainability of activities implemented by previous projects.

Support is structured around four result areas:

• the national CVD prevention strategy is supported by the project with specific activities;
• the surgical capacity and integrated cardiac care at the NCC is further strengthened;
• cardiovascular health services are further strengthened at all levels of the national healthcare pyramid;
• the NCC is strengthened and institutionalised. 

This project continues to cover all 21 Provinces and the nine Districts of the Ulaanbaatar urban area.

In continuation with the previous phases of this intervention, the primary (direct) beneficiaries of the project are all hospitals involved in the project country-wide and the entire staff of the NCC, while the secondary (final) beneficiaries are the patients affected by CVD and the entire Mongolian population at large, through the upgrading of the NCC and all cardiovascular services across the country.