President Islam Karimov underlined that reforms in healthcare are regular and continuous process. He said that medicine, like science and practice, is improving all the time and it reflects in national healthcare model of Uzbekistan.

Uzbek leader said that the country enters new stage of reforms, within which it is planned to complete optimization of healthcare establishments’ network and carry out stage-by-stage equipment with modern apparatus. He noted that material-technical, scientific and practical base of specialized medical centers will be improved significantly. He added that the mechanisms of stimulating of healthcare workers will be introduced and their responsibility will be raised.

Islam Karimov underlined that it is planned to mobilize over US$1.5 billion from various sources in near years to this purpose. “We consider this work not only as important factor of strengthening well-being and health of population, but also as key figure of growth of economy and sustainable progress of the society.”

Uzbek President Islam Karimov said that share of expenses to healthcare from the state budget makes up 15.7% and to GDP of Uzbekistan – 4.1%.

He noted that over US$700 million of preferential loans and grants of donors were attracted to strengthen material-technical base of healthcare system, its re-equipment with modern technologies in past period.

“Despite continuing global financial-economic crisis, the volume of financial resources directed to healthcare grew 2.5 times in last three years,” the Uzbek head said.