President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a presentation on measures to further develop the healthcare system, improve the quality of medical services, and expand private sector participation, according to the presidential press service.
The presentation first examined the role of the private sector in the industry's development and existing opportunities. It was noted that in 2016, there were 3,200 private clinics operating in the country, and by 2026, their number is expected to reach 8,700. The number of private medical specialties increased from 39 to 116, and the number of beds in this sector rose from 16,000 to 57,000. The private sector's share of the total bed fund is projected to increase from 12% to 31%.
At the same time, problems in the system were highlighted. Current quality control mechanisms for medical services were deemed insufficiently effective, licensing requirements do not fully meet modern standards, information on private clinic activities is not consolidated in a unified electronic system, and the system for targeted work with investment projects is inadequate.
Therefore, new approaches aimed at expanding private sector participation and increasing its responsibility were presented. Specifically, all tasks related to licensing medical activities will be transferred to the Center for Licensing and Accreditation of Medical Organizations. Starting July 1, 2026, licensing procedures will be strengthened, and 14 of the 48 licensing requirements related to patient safety and quality of care will be revised. The practice of completely suspending the operations of multi-specialty clinics will be abandoned, with restrictions applied only to the specific area where a violation is found.
Quality control of compliance with licensing requirements will be enhanced, and remote monitoring through an electronic information system will be introduced. Additionally, it was proposed to allow non-state medical organizations to provide medical services funded by the budget in all areas covered by their license, to grant accredited private institutions the right to perform transplant activities, and from 2028, the Insurance Fund will not purchase medical services from non-accredited non-state and republican-level state medical institutions.
By the end of 2030, all state medical institutions will be gradually licensed: by April 1, 2027 — 55 republican institutions; by the end of 2028 — 413 regional institutions; and by the end of 2030 — over 3,000 district (city) state medical organizations.
Economic support measures to stimulate private medicine were also discussed. These include allocating $200 million in preferential credit resources for opening new clinics in remote areas, providing loans of up to $10 million in local currency for up to 10 years per project, and applying a compensation mechanism for 50% of the base interest rate. Additionally, incentives such as setting the social tax for foreign specialists at 1% and granting customs benefits for medical equipment and components were proposed.
The presentation also reviewed a new system for attracting investments to the sector. This involves establishing an Agency for the Development of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Network, providing consulting and practical services to investors on a "single window" principle, and introducing a mechanism for professionally forming and promoting public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
Specifically, the agency will be authorized to attract direct investments, support investment and PPP projects, and transfer state medical organizations to management. Under the agency's auspices, a joint-stock company called "Health Invest" will be established to assist in forming, coordinating, and implementing investment projects.
It was proposed to develop, together with foreign experts, a strategy for transforming state medical institutions based on corporate governance principles. Urban planning and sanitary rules and standards for designing, constructing, and commissioning medical organizations will be revised with the involvement of foreign consultants and aligned with international requirements.
The head of state approved the proposals and gave relevant instructions to officials. In November 2025, the president noted that prices for services in private clinics are lower than in republican centers. In this regard, it was instructed to review the justification of prices in state medical institutions. If similar services are provided cheaper and with higher quality in private clinics, medical insurance funds will be directed there.
On November 4, the government of Uzbekistan approved the procedure for providing medical care at the expense of the state budget in state and private medical institutions. According to the regulation, budget-funded medical care is provided based on an electronic referral with a QR code, giving the patient the right to choose a state or private medical institution for planned inpatient treatment.
Source: www.gazeta.uz