Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 June, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the activities of the Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology.

The head of state visited the old building of this institution on 14 May last year. At that time, the hospital functioned as the Republican Hematology Center, serving both adults and children in one place. Due to insufficient drug supply and the lack of modern methods of chemotherapy, the effectiveness of treatment was no more than 30 percent.

Conditions in the building were also deplorable. There were 3-4 patients in one room, sanitary rooms were shared. Each patient was allocated 11,000 soums a day for food. Half of the laboratory tests were performed in private clinics.

After what he saw in the center, conversations with parents and specialists, on 27 May 2021, the President signed a resolution “On further improvement of the system for providing hematological and oncological services to the population.” According to the document, the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology has been turned into a separate center. For this institution, a new building was put into operation on Arnasay Street in the Chilanzar district of Tashkent, which began functioning in January of this year.

The head of state got acquainted with the conditions created here.

The number of beds in the new center has increased from the previous 85 to 160. Special conditions have been created for both sick children and parents.

Today, 101 children are being treated here. They are served by more than 130 doctors, including 38 researchers, hundreds of nurses.

Modernly equipped departments of pediatric oncohematology, hematology, oncology, resuscitation, hemodialysis and plasmapheresis, inpatient and outpatient clinics. This year, 14 types of equipment were additionally installed.

The supply of medicines has also increased. So, if in 2016 2.8 billion soums were allocated for these purposes, now this amount is almost 60 times more and amounted to 170 billion soums. Oncohematological preparations of 91 types are provided free of charge at the expense of the state.

Foreign consultants were involved in the activities of the center, the standards of treatment and diagnostics were updated. In particular, the number of stem cell transplants has increased.

Another important aspect is that such complex analyzes as molecular genetic and immunohistochemical studies have been arranged at the very center. In the past, samples were sent for analysis to countries such as India, Turkey and Russia.

Along with the treatment of children, increased attention is paid to education and upbringing. Here, the Zamin Foundation created the Mehrli Maktab school for 40 children and the Ilk Kadam kindergarten for 30 children. In them, children gain knowledge, interestingly and usefully spend time in modern conditions.

The President expressed his words of support to the children treated at the center and their mothers.

- The purpose of my next visit to you is to give you strength, to increase your hopes. This is a test for all of us. We, as a state, must use all our mind and potential to defeat this disease. We need to help parents, support children, do everything possible for their recovery,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In a conversation with the children, the President listened to their dreams and aspirations, wished them a speedy recovery and success in their studies.

It also hosted a presentation of plans to expand the activities of the Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology.

Thus, it is planned to build 2 aseptic buildings for allogeneic and autologous transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells, a hostel for 200 beds for patients arriving from the regions for long-term treatment. By the end of the year, another 67 types of equipment will be delivered to the center.

“This is a new system for our country. Now it is necessary to connect the center with similar departments in regional hospitals and timely detect diseases. Grassroots screening should be expanded and “get ahead of the disease,” the President said.

The importance of the development of science on the basis of this center was emphasized.

- There are conditions in the building, but there is no success. Success is in science! Therefore, this place should become a scientific center for studying everything from disease factors to effective treatments. Let the medical workers of the regions come and improve their skills here,” the head of state said.

Instructions were given to update treatment protocols based on the best practices of Germany, to attract more specialists.