Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On measures to further develop the mental health service of the population" was adopted.

Fundamental improvement of the mental health service of the population envisages:

introduction of a unified vertical management system for the provision of specialized psychiatric and narcological care;

integration of the mental health service with primary health care facilities;

full provision of medicines for persons suffering from mental disorders;

strengthening the mental health of the population, especially children and adolescents;

improvement of the personnel training system, worthy stimulation and creation of additional conditions for the effective work of specialists;

further strengthening of the material and technical base of psychiatric institutions.

From 1 July 2023, the transformation of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Narcology into the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Mental Health will begin, while maintaining the current funding procedure.

It is determined that the Center:

establishes the provision of specialized psychiatric, medical-psychological and narcological assistance, forms a high-tech material base and a scientific school in these areas;

carries out coordination and control over work in the direction of ensuring mental health at all levels of health care.

Psychiatric and narcological hospitals and dispensaries in the regions are territorial organizational and methodological departments of the Center.

From 1 August 2023, states are introduced:

a medical psychologist - in district (city) multidisciplinary central polyclinics by reducing the staff of district (city) departments of the Center for Supporting a Healthy Lifestyle and Increasing the Physical Activity of the Population;

a suicidologist - in neuropsychiatric dispensaries that do not have inpatient beds, and in psychiatric hospitals that include dispensaries;

doctor of the emergency department, psychiatrist on duty, medical psychologist or psychotherapist within the current states - in neuropsychiatric dispensaries with inpatient beds, and in psychiatric hospitals.

Starting from 1 July 2023, the amount of the allowance is increased from 25 to 50% of the official salary of psychiatrists working in district (city) multidisciplinary central polyclinics, as well as psychiatrists, medical psychologists, psychotherapists and suicidologists working in psychiatric medical institutions.

The resolution approved:

Program of comprehensive measures for the development of the mental health service of the population in 2023-2024;

Program to equip psychiatric institutions with medical equipment in 2023-2024;

Measures to strengthen the mental health of children and improve the children’s psycho-neurological service;

A typical list of diagnostic and neurorehabilitation equipment required for children’s multidisciplinary medical centers in Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent and medical associations of districts (cities), Norma reports.