Uzbekistan Sets Priorities for Medical Tourism Development

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Abdulaziz Akkulov, Chairman of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, held an open meeting with business representatives to discuss the development of medical tourism, the expansion of tourism services and measures to increase the number of foreign visitors.

Participants discussed initiatives aimed at strengthening Uzbekistan's position as one of Central Asia's leading medical tourism destinations.

Medical tourism was described as one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry.

Participants said Uzbekistan's competitive advantages include its strategic geographic location, a modern network of multidisciplinary clinics, affordable treatment costs and the continued improvement of healthcare services.

These factors have contributed to an increase in the number of foreign patients travelling to the country from neighbouring states as well as more distant markets.

Particular attention was given to the steady growth in medical tourists arriving from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Participants said further development of the sector would require not only improvements to medical infrastructure but also a comprehensive approach to services for international patients.

Priority measures identified during the meeting included expanding cooperation with foreign medical institutions, organising familiarisation tours for overseas tour operators and media representatives, promoting integrated "treatment plus travel" programmes, and supporting international accreditation for domestic clinics.

Participants also discussed developing multilingual consultation services, introducing telemedicine, improving online appointment systems, implementing international public relations campaigns, training qualified specialists for the medical tourism sector, simplifying visa procedures and creating additional facilities for accompanying family members.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants identified key areas for further work aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Uzbekistan's medical tourism sector, expanding the range of high-quality medical services and enhancing the country's international reputation as a destination for treatment, rehabilitation and health recovery.

The development of medical tourism is viewed as an important component of efforts to diversify the tourism sector, attract foreign investment and increase exports of medical services, in line with the country's strategy to boost its tourism appeal and develop high-tech healthcare.