Authoritative experts to be involved in the creation of the Health Strategy of Uzbekistan 2030

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In January, the National Chamber of Innovative Healthcare of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the World Bank held another online consultation to prepare for the development of a draft Health Development Strategy for the country until 2030. Among the participants in the discussion was the head of KHIDI (Republic of Korea) Soonman Kwon.

Health Economist Prof. Soonman KwonSoonman Kwonis a World Bank expert with over 30 years of experience in global health development. During this period, prof. Kwon, as a consultant to WHO, the World Bank, GIZ on health systems and financing, has assisted in the development of health care in more than 30 countries in Asia and Africa.

He is currently the President of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI). 

KHIDI, as a government agency of the Republic of Korea, plays a leading role in industrial innovation policy by funding healthcare research and development, supporting companies in the development and marketing of world-class products, and strengthening global cooperation in the sector.

Professor Soonman Kwon is invited as the leading international consultant. He plans to give an expert assessment of the draft “Strategies for the development of healthcare in Uzbekistan until 2030” in order to harmonize the document with accepted international standards and best world practices in this area.

During the international online consultation held on 12 January 2022, a number of experts and representatives of the involved structures took part.

Among them are the head of the department of the National Chamber of Innovative Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan Klara Yadgarova, specialists from the Washington office of the World Bank, leading economist Moulay Driss Zine Eddin El Idrissi, health expert Dr. Mokhirjon Akhmedov, specialist from the Tashkent office of the World Bank Ikboljon Akhadzhonov, World Bank consultants Dr. Okore Okorafor , Dr. Ravshan Azimov.

During the consultation, the participants worked out a number of topical issues on the preparation of the draft Health Development Strategy, exchanged international experience in this area, discussed the composition of the working groups, as well as candidates for invited authoritative experts.

It should be noted that before Soonman Kwon headed KHIDI, he was a professor and dean of the School of Public Health at Seoul National University (SNU). Professor Kwon has also been visiting professor at Harvard University, London School of Economics, University of Toronto, University of Tokyo, Peking University, University of Bremen. In 2016-2017 prof. Kwon led the Health Sector Group at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He is also the founding director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Health Systems and Financing at SNU.

In 2020, Sunman Kwon received Seoul National University’s Excellence in Education Award