AstraZeneca Proposes Cost-Sharing Model for Uzbekistan Drug Access

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — AstraZeneca Pitches Risk-Sharing Drug Finance Model to Uzbekistan as Forum Targets 2030 Health Goals

AstraZeneca has proposed a cost-sharing financing mechanism that would split procurement costs between the Uzbek government and the pharmaceutical manufacturer — a model the company argues could unlock access to cutting-edge therapies without straining the state budget.

The proposal was made at the 5th International Pharmaceutical Forum of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, where healthcare financing emerged as the central theme against the backdrop of the country's Uzbekistan 2030 national development strategy.

Tatyana Kubasova, Director of Frontier Markets for AstraZeneca's Russia and Eurasia biopharma division, outlined the rationale in a plenary address. "We see how dynamically Uzbekistan's healthcare system is developing. The Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy sets clear, measurable targets — including raising average life expectancy to 78 years and reducing mortality from oncological, cardiovascular, and other diseases by 2.5 times. Meeting these benchmarks depends directly on access to modern treatments," she said.

Kubasova described cost-sharing as a proven instrument. "Introducing cost-sharing, where the state and manufacturer share financial responsibility for treatment, can enable uninterrupted procurement of the most advanced medicines without serious pressure on the state budget. We have already piloted this tool in several countries, including Belarus, and are ready to work through this with Uzbekistan's regulatory authorities," she said.

Risk-sharing arrangements between governments and drugmakers are increasingly common globally, particularly for oncology and rare disease therapies where high per-patient costs create budgetary exposure. Such models allow states to maintain access to high-value medicines while capping fiscal risk.

AstraZeneca also announced plans to register several new innovative drugs for oncological and orphan diseases in Uzbekistan within the next year, signaling a broader commercial push into the market.

Kubasova was explicit that the company's ambitions extend beyond drug supply. "Today, the role of the pharmaceutical industry — especially international companies like AstraZeneca — goes far beyond simple medicine supply. We provide transfer of global expertise, training of the medical community, and introduction of modern approaches to diagnostics and patient routing. This is our direct contribution to improving the effectiveness of the entire healthcare delivery system in the country. We plan to continue and expand this work," she said.

The forum, a recurring platform for strategic discussion among government bodies, international manufacturers, distributors, and industry consultants, convened as Uzbekistan presses ahead with a broad modernization of its health system. Participants framed closer public-private dialogue as essential to building a sustainable, patient-centered care model capable of meeting the country's 2030 targets.