The main focus was on creating specialized medical system that provides healthcare-genetic help to the population, screening of expectant mothers and newborn babies, aimed at creating conditions for the birth of healthy children.

During this period, the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Fund "Soglom avlod uchun" in Tashkent and regional centers have organized and equipped with modern diagnostic equipment 11 centers of screening mothers and children.

As a result of development of the state system of early detection of congenital and hereditary diseases among newborns and pregnant women, examination of newborns increased from 5.3% in 1999 to 83% in 2007, and the birth of children with congenital anomalies decreased by 14% in 2007 compared to 2000.

At the same time, Syrdarya and Jizzakh regions still have no screening centers. Among the problems requiring attention is raising the awareness of the general population, especially the youth, on the importance of primary prevention of congenital and hereditary diseases.

Given the enormous importance of the matter, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a resolution on 18 June 2008, which approved the State program of early detection of congenital and hereditary diseases to prevent the birth of the disabled since childhood for the period of 2008-2012. Its adoption is an important link in the implementation of the state program "Year of the youth".

Among the wide range of tasks envisaged by the program is improvement of the primary prevention of congenital and hereditary diseases. The awareness raising activities are going to increase, including round tables, conferences and meetings.

The document also envisages equipping the national and regional screening centers with modern equipment. Besides, regional screening centers are going to be set up in Syrdarya and Jizzakh regions.

There are plans to provide the regional screening centers with high-resolution ultrasound scanners, refrigerating and other modern equipment. By the end of this year, all screening centers will be equipped with electronic devices for processing biological material, which should significantly speed up the diagnosis process.

Providing screening centers will special transport will ensure timely delivery of blood samples to screening centers in remote areas, expand the coverage of the population with modern examination methods and ease the work of identifying patients with hereditary diseases.

By 2012, it is expected that the coverage of the newborns with screening will reach 90%, and this will ensure timely identification of the most common hereditary diseases.

The state program also envisages wider provision of children with special nutrition and medicines. If in 2003-2007, USD 951,100 was spent for these purposes, the new program stipulates spending of some USD 1.7 million in 2008-2012.

Measures have been outlined also to raise the qualification of the professionals working at screening centers, including their training abroad and holding seminars and conferences with visiting foreign specialists.

In general, to implement the program, UZS 710.3 million and USD 15 million will be allocated.