Understanding the Divide: An In-Depth Look at Healthcare in Mongolia

Mongolia, the world's second-largest landlocked nation, exhibits a distinctive healthcare landscape shaped by its unique geography and historical background. While the capital city Ulaanbaatar hosts most of the population and modern medical facilities, vast semi-desert regions like the Gobi Desert remain underserved, posing significant challenges for equitable healthcare delivery.

This geographic disparity stems from Mongolia's vast territory, with nearly half its residents concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural areas with limited resources. The healthcare system bears marks of its Soviet and Chinese influences, creating a stark contrast: well-equipped hospitals in cities versus limited clinics in remote locations, where travel distances to access care can exceed 95 km over rugged terrain.

A recent study published in the Journal of Global Health, led by Associate Professor Yae Yoshino from Sophia University, analyses these challenges within Mongolia’s healthcare. The research highlights how geographical, cultural, and historical factors have molded the current system, detailing its strengths and weaknesses and proposing strategies for improvement.

Despite these hurdles, Mongolia boasts notable strengths. Its population remains relatively young and resilient due to policies promoting early retirement, especially for women with multiple children. The country also provides universal healthcare through a centralized system established during the Soviet era, offering free primary care to all citizens.

Traditional Mongolian medicine, influenced by Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan practices, continues to play a vital role, particularly in remote areas, where it offers culturally appropriate treatments that are accessible. Experts trained at the national university uphold and develop this traditional knowledge.

However, the system faces pressing issues, primarily the shortage of healthcare providers in rural zones. Many remote communities, like Altanshiree, have fewer than ten healthcare professionals serving entire populations. These providers often travel long distances—sometimes on horseback, motorcycle, or on foot—to reach patients living in yurts across difficult terrain.

The hierarchical structure within Mongolia's healthcare workforce also hampers progress. Although some faculty members with advanced degrees teach at local institutions, over 90% of nursing faculty are physicians. Nurses are often viewed as assistants to doctors, unable to function independently, limiting their contribution, particularly in rural settings.

Disease prevention remains a challenge, with leading causes of death including respiratory, digestive, and circulatory diseases. Screening programs for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and colon cancer are not routinely implemented, partly due to dietary practices like high salt intake and heavy meat consumption.

To address these issues, researchers suggest Mongolia strengthen international collaborations, especially with countries like the U.S. and Japan, to enhance healthcare education, workforce capacity, and adherence to WHO disease prevention guidelines. The integration of telemedicine and remote diagnostic platforms could further bridge the gap between urban expertise and rural needs.

Expanding the roles and autonomy of nurses and midwives, along with culturally sensitive preventive initiatives such as health screenings during community and religious gatherings, could make healthcare more accessible and effective.

According to Dr. Yoshino, these strategies could facilitate a more inclusive, resilient, and culturally appropriate healthcare system that benefits all Mongolian citizens. Recognizing the unique geographic and cultural context of Mongolia is key to developing a sustainable healthcare model capable of overcoming existing disparities.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-deep-health-mongolia.html