Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 19 August, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation outlining proposals for transforming Uzbekistan’s healthcare system and improving the quality of medical services.

The initiative continues the instructions given by the Head of State on 7 May during a videoconference. Together with industry experts, public representatives, and private sector partners, a comprehensive package of measures has been developed to modernize the system.

Key priorities include strengthening regional and district-level healthcare services to ease the burden on central institutions, adapting 1,500 clinical protocols, introducing standard operating procedures, and fully digitalizing patient care pathways for common diseases.

Particular concern was raised over the rise in hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes, which often lead to strokes and heart attacks, leaving 85% of patients disabled. To address this, new AI-based prevention and treatment protocols will be introduced at the primary care level, alongside telemedicine services, ECG telemetry, thrombolysis therapy, stenting, and thrombectomy. Public awareness campaigns will train citizens to recognize early stroke symptoms.

A National Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Center with 250 beds will be established in Tashkent, performing over 3,000 surgeries annually. Medical universities in Samarkand and Bukhara will also be equipped with modern facilities. With Japanese partners, early rehabilitation services will be introduced in line with international standards, while over 150 specialists will undergo overseas training. A $150 million investment will support these reforms.

Healthcare infrastructure will be mapped, digitized, and developed through a unified master plan. This includes updating 210 sanitary standards, creating standard designs for hospitals and clinics, and introducing new construction guidelines.

Laboratory diagnostics, one of the weakest areas, will see significant upgrades. Currently, 2,800 polyclinics are served by only 1,500 laboratories, many with outdated equipment. By 2030, 198 centralized laboratories will be established, all processes digitized, and quality control measures enforced, while the list of free tests will be expanded.

Medical education reform will also be a priority. The Academy of Nursing will be transformed into the Academy of Professional Medicine under Tashkent State Medical University. New joint programs with international partners, NCLEX-based nurse certification, expanded enrollment, and accredited training programs will be introduced. Medical universities will shift to more practical training, two-stage knowledge assessments, and the registration of medical professionals.

Public health initiatives will focus on preventing non-communicable diseases, reducing maternal and child mortality, and tackling injury rates. A national prevention program will be developed.

The blood service will also be modernized. Between 2026 and 2030, Uzbekistan aims to achieve 100% blood supply coverage, produce blood-based medicines, and adopt advanced virus inactivation and irradiation technologies to ensure safety. These steps will lower mortality from bleeding and make donor blood more accessible.

In pharmaceuticals, where the sector now exceeds $2 billion, reforms will target ensuring safe, high-quality medicines. Measures include recognizing WHO-recommended drug registrations, conducting bioequivalence testing for generics, introducing differentiated registration for medical devices based on safety levels, and implementing a notification-based system for market entry. Contract manufacturing, technology transfer, and modern pharmacovigilance mechanisms will also be promoted.

President Mirziyoyev endorsed the proposals, signed the relevant documents, and instructed responsible bodies to ensure their systematic and effective implementation.