Mirziyoyev Reviews Healthcare Reform and Private Sector Growth

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a presentation dedicated to the further development of the healthcare system, improving the quality of medical services, and expanding the role of the private sector in the industry.

The country continues systematic work aimed at ensuring the population receives qualified medical care, increasing the efficiency of healthcare management, expanding the participation of private medical organizations, and modernizing regional infrastructure.

During the presentation, the opportunities and current role of the private sector were separately reviewed. It was noted that while in 2016 there were 3,200 private clinics operating in the country, their number is expected to reach 8,700 by the end of 2026.

The number of private healthcare specialties increased from 39 to 116, while the number of hospital beds grew from 16,000 to 57,000. The share of the private sector in the total bed capacity is projected to rise from 12 percent to 31 percent.

At the same time, several existing challenges were identified. These include insufficient effectiveness of healthcare quality control mechanisms, non-compliance of some licensing requirements with modern conditions, the absence of a unified electronic system for monitoring private clinic activities, and insufficient coordination in investment project support.

In this regard, new approaches to sector regulation and increased private sector accountability were presented.

It was proposed to transfer all medical licensing functions to the Center for Licensing and Accreditation of Medical Organizations. Starting from 1 July 2026, licensing procedures are expected to be strengthened, with 14 of 48 requirements revised, focusing on patient safety and quality of care. It was also proposed to abandon the practice of completely shutting down multi-profile clinics and instead apply restrictions only to specific areas where violations are identified.

Additionally, enhanced quality control measures are planned, including remote monitoring through electronic information systems to ensure compliance with licensing conditions.

The possibility of expanding the participation of private medical organizations in providing services funded by the state budget within existing licenses is also being considered, along with granting accredited clinics the right to perform transplantation procedures. Starting from 2028, it is proposed to discontinue procurement of medical services from non-accredited public and private institutions using funds from the Health Insurance Fund.

A phased mandatory licensing system for public healthcare institutions is also planned: by the end of 2030 for all institutions, including 55 republican-level facilities by April 1, 2027, 413 regional institutions by the end of 2028, and more than 3,000 district and city facilities by the end of 2030.

To stimulate private healthcare development, economic support measures have been proposed. These include allocating 200 million US dollars in concessional loans for establishing clinics in remote regions, providing up to 10 million US dollars per project for a period of up to 10 years, and compensating 50 percent of the base interest rate. In addition, the introduction of a 1 percent social tax for foreign specialists and customs exemptions for medical equipment are under consideration.

A new investment attraction system for the sector has also been presented, including the creation of a Medical and Pharmaceutical Development Agency, implementation of a single-window mechanism for investors, and development of public-private partnership tools.

The new agency is expected to be responsible for attracting investment, project support, and management of state medical institutions. Additionally, a company named Health Invest is planned to be established as a joint-stock company to support investment projects.

It was also proposed to develop a transformation strategy for state medical institutions based on corporate governance principles with the involvement of international experts, and to revise urban planning and sanitary standards in line with international practice.

The Head of State approved the presented proposals and issued relevant instructions to responsible agencies.