Mansurbek Olloyorov, head of the National Agency for Social Protection, announced at a meeting with business representatives on August 7 that the volume of the social services market being formed by the state with the participation of the private sector will reach approximately 1 trillion soums by 2026. According to him, over the past two and a half years, more than 20 types of social services and assistance measures have been organized with the involvement of entrepreneurs.

The agency plans to further expand private sector participation, gradually leaving the state primarily with regulatory and quality control functions. “We are trying to rely more on entrepreneurs in organizing these services and providing assistance,” said the agency head.

He explained that the discussion is not just about purchasing individual goods or services, but about forming a full-fledged market in the social protection sphere. “Today, the market created by the state in social protection is reaching 1 trillion soums. This year, a market worth 1 trillion soums is being organized through entrepreneurs. This means about 3,000 entrepreneurs providing various services related to social protection,” he said.

The agency head mentioned inclusive employment as one of the areas of state-business cooperation. Entrepreneurs who hire persons with disabilities and citizens in difficult life situations are provided with benefits and subsidies. He noted that such people often find it harder to enter the labor market than other job seekers, so the state views supporting businesses that create jobs for them as part of its inclusive employment policy and the construction of a social state.

Another example was the provision of prosthetic and orthopedic products, rehabilitation aids, and wheelchairs. Previously, as the agency head noted, suppliers were identified through tenders, but now a mechanism is used where the cost of the aid is set, and the recipient can independently or with the help of a social worker choose a suitable supplier.

The agency is also cooperating with private companies in organizing social taxis (Yandex), particularly for transporting children, and is more actively involving entrepreneurs in home care services for people in need of constant assistance. “We had services we provided ourselves, such as home care, household services for people who cannot get up and need constant care. And in this area, we are increasingly relying on entrepreneurs,” said the agency head.

According to him, private organizations are capable of more effectively providing direct services, while the state body can focus on setting requirements and quality control. “Entrepreneurs do this better. We want to demand more quality and participate as a regulator,” he said.

The agency head announced that private sector participation will continue to expand. In particular, entrepreneurs are beginning to engage in new types of rehabilitation services, day care, and other forms of support for persons with disabilities. “We are in favor of gradually transferring what we cannot manage ourselves to the private sector,” he said.

As an example, he cited two sanatoriums in the system of the National Agency for Social Protection that are being prepared for transfer to the private sector. According to him, relevant tenders have already been held, and results are planned to be announced soon. “We are gradually coming to the conclusion that this sphere does not necessarily have to be managed by the state — it should be managed by the private sector,” said the agency head.

He expressed the opinion that in the future, a much larger market for business will form in the social protection sphere. “This will be beneficial for entrepreneurs, and most importantly, it will improve quality and expand coverage for people in need of social services,” said the agency head.

The meeting noted that entrepreneurs' proposals could be used in the future to amend regulatory documents and state support mechanisms in the social sphere. Organizers urged businesses to point out rules that hinder the development of services or require adjustment.

Source: www.gazeta.uz