President Mirziyoyev Highlights Doctors’ and Pharmacists’ Contribution to National Health

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with medical and pharmaceutical workers.

The head of state warmly congratulated those present on Healthcare Workers’ Day, expressing his deep respect and best wishes to all doctors, nurses, and industry specialists who serve as guardians of the nation’s health.

“Today, we will discuss with you numerous new initiatives aimed at developing the sector. Modern medicine cannot be imagined without pharmaceuticals. I believe that if from now on we celebrate this holiday as the Day of Medical and Pharmaceutical Workers, you will support this idea. I am confident that all of this will serve as additional motivation for medical and pharmaceutical staff, helping them to adopt advanced treatment and prevention methods,” the President said.

It was emphasized that reforms aimed at sustainable economic development, ensuring employment and income for the population, providing young people with modern knowledge and education, and strengthening the nation’s health are continuing at a high pace.

Over recent years, 230 trillion soms (approximately 20 billion USD) have been invested in healthcare. By comparison, this year alone, 45 trillion soms were allocated, six times more than in 2016.

As a result, 187 new clinics and hospitals have been opened across the country, while 1,244 facilities have been renovated and equipped with modern medical technology.

The capacity of primary healthcare institutions has increased by 60%, bringing medical services closer to the population. More than 400 high-tech diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, previously conducted mainly in the capital, are now available in regional centers. Hundreds of complex surgeries have been transferred to regional centers, and minimally invasive procedures are now performed at the district level.

“For the first time, kidney transplantation has been successfully implemented in 45 districts, which is a clear demonstration of our work in safeguarding human health,” the President noted.

“Millions of our citizens living in rural and remote areas feel the impact of changes in the healthcare system, and these achievements are recognized by international organizations, analytical centers, and ranking agencies. Life expectancy in our country has increased: for men, from 71 to 73 years, and for women, from 76 to 77.5 years. This is undoubtedly a significant achievement we can be proud of together with you.

Undoubtedly, over 600,000 dedicated healthcare workers have made a worthy contribution to these noble efforts, and no matter how many thanks we express to them, it will never be enough,” the head of state added.

Following this, the President presented state awards, orders, and medals to those who had earned them. Among the awardees were young doctors who studied and gained experience at leading universities worldwide, returned to Uzbekistan, and are implementing modern, high-tech treatment methods.

The head of state also expressed special respect and gratitude to foreign partners providing direct support in safeguarding public health.

President Mirziyoyev stressed that this meeting should be beneficial both for the people and for the healthcare sector and its professionals. He therefore encouraged an open discussion of unresolved issues.

Active work is underway to curb inflation and maintain stable food prices. However, it was noted that a significant portion of citizens’ income is effectively spent on medications.

“In the past five years, specialized centers have been allocated 7.5 trillion soms. They are equipped with thousands of modern instruments. Can any center say it lacks medicines? But how exactly are these funds, equipment, and medications being used? Unfortunately, only about 25% of the equipment’s potential is being utilized,” the President remarked.

It was emphasized that centers, as well as district and regional healthcare administrations that have not engaged in digitalization, sought foreign partners, updated clinical protocols, or built modern teams capable of performing advanced diagnostics, prevention, and treatment, have no future.

It is necessary to analyze which neighborhoods and districts have seen increases or decreases in disease incidence, develop concrete plans to prevent illnesses, and ensure effective treatment. Republican centers must structure their work “from the ground up,” using data analysis and approaches that allow the most efficient use of expensive modern medical equipment.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed the current state of healthcare in Uzbekistan, highlighting concrete regional examples to underscore areas requiring urgent attention.

For instance, over the past five years, the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases has decreased by 1.5 times nationwide. However, in Kashkadarya and Navoi regions, there has been almost no improvement. In Yakkabag, 33% of doctor visits are related to gastrointestinal conditions, in Guzar — 29%, and in Koson and Mirishkor — 25%.

It was also noted that doctors continue to use antibiotics widely, particularly for children, without adequate differentiation. Training of medical staff in district hospitals and clinics on which medications are appropriate is proceeding slowly.

Another example concerns kidney diseases: in Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, Fergana, and Andijan, the incidence exceeds the national average by 40–50%. The President emphasized that the persistent high rates in these regions should be a concern for the leadership of the Urology and Nephrology Centers. Specialists from these centers must visit districts and train local doctors in kidney disease prevention.

Despite the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the city of Karshi, as well as in the Angor and Buston districts, the Cardiological Center has yet to develop specific preventive measures. Modern laboratory and simulation equipment acquired for this center three years ago at a cost of $5 million has not been used even once.

Annually, 100 billion soms are allocated for medications to treat endocrine disorders. Nevertheless, thyroid disease remains widespread in Karakalpakstan, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, and Jizzakh. The Endocrinology Center has raised its service fees by 35% over the past year but has not focused on disease prevention.

It was also observed that private clinics, in several high-tech services, have caught up with — and in some cases surpassed — state hospitals. For example, robotic surgical technologies were first introduced in the private sector. However, the Neurosurgery and Surgical Centers still have no plan to implement robotic procedures.

Recently, the head of the Republican Oncology Center was replaced by a qualified administrator from Turkey. The world-renowned French clinic “Gustav Russi” has also been engaged to work with the center, and implementation of their clinical protocols will begin.

“Let all center directors hear this: these centers are not private property — they belong to the state and the people! Every director must draw conclusions and develop a comprehensive annual plan. Within three months, they must find an international partner and take responsibility for improving the situation themselves, or we will act without them,” the President stated.

It was further noted that heads of regional and district healthcare institutions, as well as chief physicians of family clinics, continue to operate according to outdated approaches and methods. Equipment delivered to the regions, often with great difficulty, is not being used fully, with some machines remaining idle.

For example, a multi-slice CT scanner purchased for the Gurlan District Hospital for $300,000 operates at only 9% capacity, and an angiograph at the Negotiation Center in Navoi Region, costing nearly $1 million, is used at just 4% of its capacity. Responsible officials are expected to visit private clinics to see firsthand how entrepreneurs effectively utilize such equipment.

“Today, people’s attitudes toward life, their needs, demands, and worldview have changed radically. As in other spheres, this sets new tasks for us in improving medical quality and introducing modern approaches. Therefore, in November–December, serious preparatory work will be carried out, and from January, a system will be implemented in healthcare that allows us to hear the public’s assessment,” the President said.

From now on, directors of 26 centers, heads of regional and district healthcare institutions, and chief physicians of family clinics will operate based on detailed monthly plans.

These leaders will appear on television and social media to inform the public about the tasks at hand, the most common diseases, and ways to reduce their prevalence. In addition, they will address citizens directly, explaining the importance of maintaining health, undergoing regular medical check-ups, proper nutrition, and physical activity.

Center directors personally visit the most challenging districts and settlements. Over the course of a month, they study the causes of diseases, develop solutions, and train doctors in family clinics and district hospitals in effective treatment methods.

From now on, daily consultations with residents by heads of regional and district healthcare authorities will be conducted directly in the communities.

“This will establish real contact with the population; people will be satisfied and will provide an objective assessment of the healthcare system themselves.

In this regard, I want to address the heads of regional and district healthcare institutions, chief physicians, and directors of clinics. Let them ask themselves: how much time does a patient spend when visiting a hospital or clinic, and how satisfied are they with the service received?

If these leaders put themselves in the patient’s shoes, walk through the offices from the entrance to the doctor’s consultation, go up and down floors for X-rays, laboratory tests, ultrasounds, and ECGs, they will understand the people’s experience and find the answer to this question.

Therefore, every head of regional and district healthcare, chief physician, and clinic director must pay attention to the patient and create all necessary conditions to ensure that service for every person seeking help is provided as efficiently as possible,” the President said.

It was determined that district and regional chief physicians will work directly with republican centers within an integrated system. They will submit requests to the centers based on the type and dynamics of diseases in their regions. This will encompass not only treatment methods but also preventive measures, professional development for doctors, and other key tasks.

From the start of the new year, the appointment of 26 center directors, heads of regional and district healthcare authorities, and directors of family clinics will follow a new procedure with clearly established criteria.

Furthermore, the roles of directors and chief physicians in all medical institutions will be separated. Managers who have undergone leadership training and demonstrated strong results in the private sector will be appointed as heads.

The incentive system for leaders will also be revised. The best district and regional healthcare departments, as well as directors of family clinics who have implemented innovations in prevention and effective treatment at the local level, ensured medicine distribution, recruited and regularly trained qualified staff, created a healthy environment and high-quality service, and completed full digitalization, will be awarded the honorary title of “Medical Worker Serving the Benefit of Uzbekistan,” along with orders, medals, and a cash prize of 30 million soms.

To improve the infrastructure of the hospitals and clinics they lead, each will be allocated 500 million soms.

In each region, the two best heads of district healthcare departments and directors of family clinics will be sent for management training to countries with advanced healthcare systems, such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Turkey.

This competition will also apply to the 26 specialized centers. Specifically, center directors and branch heads who updated clinical protocols based on best practices, implemented new treatment methods, organized operations effectively at district and neighborhood levels, found international partners, attracted specialists and investment, equipped centers with modern equipment and laboratories, and significantly increased medical service exports will also be duly recognized.

“If we proceed in this way, an atmosphere of competition and diligence will develop in clinics, district and regional hospitals, and republican centers. Advanced practices will emerge, worthy professionals will be fairly rewarded, and their pride will grow. Our people will also become active participants in this process,” the President emphasized.

Today’s meeting is being held at the Tashkent State Medical University, which has been training doctors for almost a century — and this is no coincidence.

“We are introducing high-tech equipment into medicine, creating new clinics. Who works in them? Of course, our sons and daughters — the builders of the New Uzbekistan.”

“Therefore, we must continue reforms in medical education and further develop the institute of family medicine, which will be able to provide qualified care to all family members, regardless of age,” the President emphasized.

Starting from the new academic year, medical universities will open a Faculty of General Medicine at the undergraduate level, including programs in Pediatrics and General Practice. These faculties will also offer residency and master’s programs specializing in Family Medicine.

Students enrolled in the residency program will receive free education while simultaneously working as family doctors with a salary. Graduates of the Family Medicine residency will receive a specialized diploma and a 150-percent salary bonus.

From this point, a three-stage system for assessing the quality of medical education will be implemented.

At the first stage, undergraduate students in medical universities will be evaluated on their knowledge of fundamental and clinical disciplines.

At the second stage, doctors who have completed residency will take an examination in their specialization. Upon successful completion, the specialist will be entered into the state registry and granted permission to practice medicine.

Special attention is being given to nurses, who spend the majority of their time with patients and perform therapeutic procedures. The focus is shifting from training nurses to carry out only basic tasks to preparing professionals who will assist doctors in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

In this regard, the Nursing Academy will be transferred under the management of Tashkent State Medical University, forming the basis of the Higher Professional Medical Academy.

Starting next year, the Academy, in collaboration with universities in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom, will begin training highly qualified nurses with higher education.

From the next academic year, all medical universities in the country will offer programs in Advanced Nursing Practice. Quotas will be doubled initially, and from 2027 onwards, they will increase by at least 20 percent annually.

The goal is to raise the proportion of nurses with higher education to 10 percent in the coming years.

The work of these nurses, working alongside doctors, will be properly rewarded: starting next year, a 100 percent salary bonus will be applied.

At the same time, the system for training mid-level nurses will also be reformed.

As part of these changes, in each region, one technical college in cooperation with the British company Pearson will begin training nurses according to international standards. Subsequently, educational programs from Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and other countries will be introduced.

This approach aims to form a corps of nurses meeting international requirements and fluent in foreign languages.

It was noted that the wise words of the great scholar and physician Abu Ali ibn Sina: “A doctor must constantly renew their knowledge, for the body and nature are constantly changing” remain relevant even after a thousand years.

Today’s doctor must be knowledgeable about modern technologies, treatment methods, and diagnostics, and must continuously improve their skills.

In this context, a new system of continuous professional development for medical workers will be established.

Starting next year, various forms of professional development will be introduced: remote learning, work with robotic simulators, practical training, and independent on-the-job work.

A Center for Continuous Professional Medical Education will be created to develop the requirements for training and the criteria for evaluation.

As in other sectors, the private healthcare sector is also actively developing.

Over the past eight years, the number of private clinics and laboratories has tripled, reaching 9,000, with a total of 57,000 beds.

The President noted that currently 30 percent of medical services are provided by the private sector, and many of the most advanced initiatives originate from it. This is a source of satisfaction, and he emphasized that he is ready to consider all proposals for expanding private partnerships.

It was noted that the cost of medical services in private clinics is lower than in republican centers.

Responsible officials were instructed to evaluate the fairness of prices in republican centers and, if services are provided more cheaply and efficiently in private clinics, to cover the costs through medical insurance funds.

Support for the private healthcare sector and the creation of additional favorable conditions will continue.

In particular, starting next year, the preferential regime for importing medical equipment, machinery, and ambulances will be extended for three more years.

The VAT refund benefits for catering enterprises will also be extended to private medical organizations.

Entrepreneurs will be provided with preferential resources of $200 million to create and equip modern multidisciplinary clinics. These funds will be made available for a term of seven years, with a three-year grace period and an interest rate of 17 percent.

The President announced additional incentives for medical workers.

From now on, on the occasion of Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Workers Day, all employees of state medical institutions will receive monetary bonuses.

Doctors who implement new treatment methods at the district level will receive a bonus of 21 million soms.

Medical workers of state institutions with at least 15 years of service will be granted free sanatorium stays, as well as a 30 percent discount on the annual tuition for a child entering a state university. Every year, 500 employees who achieve special results in their work will receive compensation for 25 percent of the initial payment on a mortgage loan.

Medical workers of state institutions with a minimum of three years of service will be provided, if necessary, with free high-tech specialized medical care once a year.

Expenses for publishing scientific articles in internationally indexed journals will be fully reimbursed.

The fees for all types of state services for medical workers will be halved. An additional 100 billion soms will be allocated for these purposes.

“If a medical worker can devote more time to their family and children, engage in self-development, improve professional skills, and deepen their love for their profession, the most important outcome will be a significant increase in the quality and effectiveness of their work.

Therefore, from April 1 of next year, we will transition state medical institutions to a five-day workweek while maintaining full salaries, instead of the current six-day week,” the Head of State emphasized.

In one of the most picturesque corners of the Jizzakh mountains, a special wellness complex will be built as a gift for medical workers.

The meeting featured an open dialogue with representatives of the medical sector. The President listened to their proposals, opinions, and comments.

“I consider the white coat of a doctor not just a symbol of the profession, but a sign of boundless dedication to the Motherland.”

“And going forward, the protection of the honor and dignity of doctors, as well as the creation of decent working and living conditions for every medical worker, will remain at the center of our attention.

I am confident that together we will transform New Uzbekistan into a country with advanced healthcare, alongside progress in other sectors.

I wish all of you strong health, energy and vitality, great success in your highly responsible and honorable work, as well as family happiness and well-being,” the President said at the conclusion of the meeting.