Employement : Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic 

·       Diplomas

BSc in General practice in the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy.

MSc in Dermaro-Venerology (specialty post-graduate education).

Candidate of Science degree in Physiology in Russia.

·       Biography

Elvira Muratalieva is a senior program officer of the health domain (5 projects including Health SWAp) at the Swiss Embassy in Kyrgyzstan/Cooperation Office.

Before this position she was working as the health program manager in other development organization as Open Society Institute and USAID.

Elvira is a Kyrgyz national. She holds a BSc in General practice in the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy. She obtained her MSc in Dermaro-Venerology (specialty post-graduate education). Also she obtained her Candidate of Science degree in Physiology in Russia. Currently Elvira is enrolled as a PhD student at UNIGE Global Health Program, research focus is on Influence of the Global Policies on country health system strengthening (on the example of WHO PEN protocol on Hypertension).

She is working in the health sector development for around 19 years by managing projects at the development organizations. As part of her work she is closely collaborating with National Government and Donor Agencies active in Kyrgyzstan. 

Research interests: health systems strengthening; adaptation of the global policies in health at the country level; management of NCDs – with patient centered approach; shift from treatment and cure of diseases towards prevention and health literacy from “salutogenesis” point of view.

·       Why is this PhD important for you (for your career, organization or country)

My main motivation to pursue this particular PhD is to strengthen my knowledge base and acquire practical skills in the area of health system strengthening and control of non-communicable diseases. Based on the example of hypertension within my PHD research, I plan to reveal some missing elements of the national policies and strategies concerning the primary care system strengthening and NCD control. I hope that evidences that I will obtain during my research program will serve a good basis for proposing recommendations to the respective Ministries to design demand-based reforms based on needs of the population.

·       Why did you choose our PhD?

By looking for the PhD programs, I find that UNIGE program provide grants for tuition process during PhD studies. This was the main reason. However, when I applied the rules completely changed and grants were not provided anymore. I decided to stay despite that fact, as I am working in the Swiss Embassy and the country is very close to my heart.