Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 12 December, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on the development of phthisiology and pulmonology, and AIDS prevention.

By a decree of the head of our state from 13 February 2019, measures were approved to improve the system for providing phthisiatric and pulmonological care. Their implementation has yielded tangible results: the total number of patients has decreased by 2,000, new cases have decreased by 10 percent, and deaths by 17 percent.

However, against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, in recent years, the number of patients with lung diseases in the dispensary in our country has increased by 18 percent.

Despite the need in the regions for 5 types of high-tech surgical care for patients with tuberculosis, such services are fully established only in the cities of Tashkent and Nukus.

Unfortunately, there is also an increase in infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. This is especially true for the city of Tashkent, Andijan and Samarkand regions.

In this regard, at a meeting with the participation of specialists, the next measures in these two areas were discussed.

The President instructed to organize a Healthy Lungs mobile brigade next year and screen children in remote areas.

The need to expand the scope of molecular genetic diagnosis of the infection that causes tuberculosis, as well as the detection and preventive treatment of patients with latent tuberculosis, is indicated.

Khokims of the regions were instructed to repair and equip TB sanatoriums, organize bacteriological laboratories in the regions.

The Ministry of Health has been tasked with establishing free drug supply for tuberculosis patients. For these purposes, 40 billion soums will be allocated from the state budget.

Measures have also been identified to expand HIV testing to 3 million people. HIV-infected people will be provided with 22 types of antiviral drugs free of charge.

Responsible persons are assigned to the issues of supplying regional centers and inter-district AIDS laboratories, equipping them with modern medical equipment.

The importance of improving the skills of primary health care workers in matters of HIV infection, strengthening explanatory work among the population about this disease and its consequences was emphasized.

In general, the task was set to develop, taking into account these instructions, draft policy documents for improving the services of phthisiology, pulmonology and AIDS prevention.