Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The international biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca took part in the Eurasian Pharmaceutical Forum and voiced a number of proposals aimed at developing the healthcare system of Uzbekistan.

One of the main goals of the company in the Republic is the development of educational projects for doctors and patients, as well as improving systems for diagnosing diseases and routing patients. AstraZeneca plans to work together with leading centers and laboratories, and also promote international dialogue between health care regulators to ensure the quality, efficiency and safety of medical care for residents of Uzbekistan. For the successful use of innovative drugs for the treatment of complex diseases, a high level of development of the diagnostic system is required, therefore the company is convinced of the need to develop diagnostic programs with the subsequent immersion of medical genetic diagnostics in the guaranteed scope of medical care.

A serious problem facing Uzbekistan is violation of transportation rules, which can lead to drug poisoning and other undesirable consequences that pose a threat to the health and life of patients. Modern drugs, especially of biological origin, are extremely sensitive to temperature changes, which is critically important in the climate of Uzbekistan. The introduced labeling system may partially help here, but not if such drugs are illegally imported in small quantities and sold without reporting at cash registers.

The use of low-quality or falsified drugs can lead to deterioration of patients’ condition or poisoning, as well as a decrease in the availability of quality drugs. This also has a negative impact on the country’s economy, since drugs enter the market without paying customs duties and taxes. Large international companies do not agree to enter a market where there is no necessary control over the supply of drugs. AstraZeneca is ready to share its experience and competencies in this area and calls for strengthening control over compliance with the rules of good distribution practice, introducing labeling and tightening the responsibility of pharmacy organizations for the sale of contraband goods.

Tatyana Kubasova, Director of Business Development and Frontier Markets, AstraZeneca, Russia and Eurasia, noted: “AstraZeneca confirms its commitment to long-term cooperation with Uzbekistan and its readiness to contribute to the development of the country’s healthcare. Since the start of work in the Republic in 2021, we have registered a number of drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular, respiratory, oncological and oncohematological diseases. We plan to expand this list with drugs for the treatment of rare diseases. The emergence of new generations of drugs on the market stimulates the development of the diagnostic system, leads to the improvement of the knowledge and skills of doctors, and optimizes and increases the efficiency of patient treatment. An additional advantage of innovative manufacturers entering the Uzbekistan market is the subsequent increase in investment in the formation of a modern healthcare ecosystem, which is capable of fully realizing the potential of new treatment methods, providing, among other things, a platform for the development of the local pharmaceutical industry.”

In June of this year, AstraZeneca, with the support of the British Embassy in the republic, held the first meeting of representatives of the healthcare systems of Uzbekistan and the UK. Roundtable participants provided an overview of both countries’ healthcare models, highlighting the challenges currently faced by regulators, doctors and patients. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan supported the company’s initiatives voiced at the meeting and declared its readiness for an open dialogue.