Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Centre of Oncology and Radiology has denied reports that free medical services for Tashkent residents have been discontinued.
The centre explained that the payment procedure for medical care had not changed, but the mechanism for referring patients had been revised.
Previously, residents of the capital applied to the centre's city branch with a paper referral. Now, like patients from other regions of Uzbekistan, they are referred to an oncology facility through an electronic referral issued via the DMED system.
Under the new procedure, a patient first visits a family clinic, where the necessary examinations, including a blood test, X-ray and ultrasound, are provided free of charge. A district or city oncologist then examines the patient and orders additional tests if necessary.
If required, an electronic referral to the Republican Oncology Centre is issued through the DMED system. Once the referral is approved, the patient receives consultations and the necessary diagnostic and treatment services free of charge.
These include CT and MRI with contrast, PET-CT, histological and immunohistochemical examinations, as well as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical procedures.
The centre said the change in procedure was prompted by the facility's workload. Under the previous system, many patients were referred through DMED with only Form No. 027, without undergoing the necessary examinations at family clinics and multidisciplinary central polyclinics.
As a result, initial diagnostics were carried out directly at the centre using funds from the State Health Insurance Fund.
According to the institution, this meant that funds intended for high-tech medical care were being used for initial examinations. It also made it more difficult to determine whether a patient required treatment at the regional or national level.
The centre said the transition to electronic referrals should resolve these problems. The new mechanism will help avoid repeated examinations, direct funds specifically toward high-tech medical care and track patients' treatment pathways electronically.
At the same time, patients admitted with the appropriate referral may not be charged for diagnostics, treatment, medicines or consumables, or be required to purchase them at their own expense.
Services remain paid only for planned visits without a referral. Emergency medical care is provided without a referral and free of charge.
If patients are asked to pay money or purchase medicines at their own expense when receiving care under a referral, they are advised to call 1303, the oncology centre's hotline.
