Last autumn, the International Health and Rehabilitation Center and the International Scientific and Clinical Center of Physiology opened their doors to patients in Ashgabat. These new medical centers were erected by the decree of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in order to effectively organize scientific research and modern treatment of the most common diseases in accordance with international standards and using innovative technologies. The national leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took part in the opening ceremonies of the new buildings.
The following day, together with the famous German cardiac surgeon, Professor Hans Meissner, he attended another festive ceremony – inauguration of the capital’s street numbered 1970, connecting Archabil Avenue with the International Cardiology Center that was renamed into Professor Hans Meissner Avenue. This decision of the national parliament noted the great personal contribution of the famous doctor to the development of Turkmen-German relations in the field of cardiology, the establishment of a mentoring school and training of highly qualified specialists for modern medical institutions of Turkmenistan.
As early as 20 years ago, a significant area in the southern part of the city was allocated for medical specialization under the state program “Health”. New buildings of the Murad Karryev State Medical University, high-rise buildings of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and the Oncology Center were erected there. Along what is now Professor Hans Meissner Avenue, on a one-and-a-half-kilometer long section, there were earlier built a plastic surgery clinic, centers for treatment of diseases of the head and neck organs, perinatology and gynecology, dentistry, diagnostics and treatment of internal diseases, ophthalmology and cardiology building.
This entire row of clinics, each of which was built according to an individual project and has a unique architectural appearance, as well as four multi-story residential buildings for doctors and other medical workers, together with a kindergarten and a secondary school, make up a single urban development ensemble of Professor Hans Meissner Avenue. He himself attended the ceremony on October 10 as an honorary guest and could fully appreciate the progress in the development of the national health care system over the years that he has been professionally connected with Turkmenistan. And the new buildings in Ashgabat, commissioned on the Day of Medical Workers, are another clear evidence of Turkmenistan’s attention to the constant improvement of the material base of the national health care system.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of new facilities, National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov talked about how innovative technologies are being introduced, and how global experience and achievements in the field of medicine are being adopted in Turkmenistan. He thanked the specialists who were directly involved in the construction and technical equipment of medical institutions in accordance with modern requirements. This is evidenced by the international certificates awarded to the heads of new institutions, in particular, from the company Dr. Mellinghoff Consulting – as the center of high-tech construction and sustainable infrastructure in Central Asia; from the independent non-profit organization ECRI – confirming the availability of world-class medical technologies; from Marienhospital Gelsenkirchen – MHG – for quality and excellence, as well as four certificates from the Justus Liebig University of Giessen for the best hospitals in the region.
The International Health and Rehabilitation Center for 400 patients occupies an entire block in the historical part of Ashgabat. It has become one of the largest medical institutions not only in the country but also in Central Asia. The seven-story building provides optimal conditions for the treatment and rehabilitation of people of different age groups. It features modern computer equipment that allows for the most effective restoration of human body functions.
The center’s structure features over 20 different departments designed to improve health of both children and adults – consultative and diagnostic, kinesitherapy and hydrotherapy departments, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, neurology and orthopedics. There are also departments of habilitation, pediatrics, cardiology, internal diseases, somnology and sports rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation, rehabilitation of internal diseases, hyperbaric oxygenation, as well as departments of neurorehabilitation and orthopedic rehabilitation. The work of each department is designed to provide an individual approach to the patient, which makes it possible to achieve high results in restoring health and improving the quality of life of people seeking help.
Another facility, the International Scientific and Clinical Center of Physiology for 250 patients, was built on the site of the former “railway” hospital. It provides everything necessary for prevention and effective treatment of non-communicable diseases. The complex consists of an administrative building, a research center, scientific and clinical and additional buildings for technical and service departments. The departments of the center are equipped with everything necessary to use digital technologies that also allows for the coordination of functions of the clinical and scientific departments. In these departments, medical specialists will be able to study the impact of the country’s natural and climatic factors on the human body, hold seminars and conferences. The center is equipped with an electronic document management system, an information base and special computer programs to monitor and analyze scientific and clinical work. The compact location of the scientific, clinical and diagnostic departments and various laboratories offers favorable conditions for the orderly and timely implementation of the tasks set before the Physiology Center.
The external look of the new medical complexes deserves special attention. It embodies the main trends in the architecture of modern clinics, starting from the predominantly white cladding of the buildings, the energy efficiency of their structural design and finishing with the utmost flexibility and humaneness of the inner space. Such architecture once again proves that hospital buildings do not have to be faceless and unattractive. The use of environmentally friendly technologies and a laconic, almost sterile design indicate that the authors of these projects thoroughly thought out the organization of the environment in which patients have to spend an unpleasant time of their lives.
It is not only the quality of medical services that is important for the restoration of health, but also the beauty and comfort of the premises in which treatment takes place – this is the opinion of most architects who specialize in designing healthcare facilities. But it is no less important for the clinic staff – doctors, nurses, research staff – to carry out their daily duties in well-organized, competently equipped offices, laboratories and reception areas.
Warm colors of the interior decoration help to get rid of the feeling of cold and discomfort inherent in many hospitals. Experts have long noticed that when a person is sick, he or she perceives light, texture, color, surrounding space and details more strongly. That is why in the new Ashgabat clinics both the furniture design and soft lighting from fluorescent lamps create an atmosphere of comfort and peace in numerous foyers, corridors and hospital wards. Visiting patients is allowed, and each of them has personal space. It is well known that a comfortable “home” environment helps the speedy recovery of patients and their general condition. Daylight, integrity of the interior, natural building materials, attention to detail – all this creates an enabling environment, attracts patients and, on the other hand, increases the profits of medical institutions, as it is one of the marketing tools.
It should be also noted that both centers have their own multi-level car parks, as well as the main buildings of the clinics that organically blend into the urban landscape. These new buildings of Ashgabat have become the important urban planning dominants, enlarging the size of the historical part of the Turkmen capital. Having filled the old quarters with new content, they “hold” the framework of the streets, embodying the urban spirit of the 21st century with their forms. But for the people for whose sake all this was built, they are also symbols of hope and health.
Architectural solutions for medical facilities all over the world aim to create comfortable conditions for patients during treatment or examination, a quick change of treatment processes, as well as technological equipment. And the entire architecture of the Health and Rehabilitation Centre and Scientific and Clinical Centre of Physiology that opened in Ashgabat is aimed at the efficient organization of complex functional systems of hospital services. This is necessary, first of all, to achieve maximum efficiency. After all, the main task of architecture is not so much to decorate cities but to improve the quality of life.