Uzbekistan has initiated a sweeping reform of its healthcare system. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree "On Measures to Improve Management Efficiency in the Healthcare System," aimed at accelerating reforms, enhancing the quality of medical services, and expanding their accessibility to the population.

The decree significantly expands the powers of the Ministry of Health. The ministry will now be able to establish project offices, hire foreign specialists and consultants, implement digital standards, and outsource certain functions.

New institutions will be created within the ministry: a Center for Population Health Analysis, a Clinical Audit Inspectorate, and a media platform for citizen feedback. The media platform will be partially funded by revenues from medical institutions.

Quality control receives special attention: the Clinical Audit Inspectorate will become the key oversight body for both public and private clinics. Starting in 2027, heads of major medical facilities will be appointed under contracts of up to 5 years, with mandatory performance evaluation based on KPIs. Failure to meet targets may result in early contract termination.

A full audit of the sector's digitalization is also planned. The Accounts Chamber, together with experts, will assess the effectiveness of existing IT projects: successful ones will continue, while inefficient ones will be revised or shut down. By the end of 2026, a unified digital healthcare architecture integrating all medical information systems is expected to be created.

The package of measures is expected to make the healthcare system more transparent, manageable, and patient-oriented. Earlier, it was reported that the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry would be transformed into the Agency for the Development of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry.

Source: podrobno.uz