President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on September 4 reviewed proposals to reform the training of medical and pharmaceutical personnel. The meeting focused on a series of significant initiatives aimed at fundamentally modernizing the sector.
Under the proposals, from the 2027/2028 academic year, the 'Medical Treatment' track will be replaced by a six-year bachelor's program in 'General Medicine'. After five years of theoretical study, students will undergo a full year of practical training, and graduates will be qualified to work as family doctors.
Admission quotas for medical universities will now be based on the actual needs of regions and healthcare facilities, as well as shortages of specialists. The state order for medical fields will be approved by the Ministry of Health, ensuring that personnel training aligns with practical demands.
The focus of doctor training will shift from theoretical education to practical skills and professional competencies. The proposals were developed based on recommendations from Cambridge, Pennsylvania, and Harvard universities, with the participation of foreign and local experts, reflecting international best practices.
Rector of Tashkent State Medical University Shukhrat Boymurodov announced that about 70% of education will be dedicated to practice and assessment of professional competencies. He stated that the 'General Medicine' track is being introduced on the basis of the 'Medical Treatment' track, and student training will be aligned with the requirements of the World Health Organization and the World Federation for Medical Education.
Deputy Health Minister Adkham Khudaykulov emphasized that the changes should cover the entire pathway of medical personnel training—from career guidance in schools to residency. Plans include updating curricula, material and technical bases, and practical training procedures in medical colleges, as well as strengthening career guidance for students interested in medical professions.
Training of narrow specialists will be gradually consolidated into the residency system, while master's programs will be reoriented primarily toward training scientific and pedagogical staff. Residency duration will range from two to five years depending on the specialty. Khudaykulov added that residency will be fully funded by state grants: 'Our respected president is giving us such an opportunity that we will make residency fully state-funded. So that they can work, earn a good salary, and focus more on their studies, producing good specialists.'
Changes will also affect mid-level medical staff. The role of nurses with higher education will be expanded, allowing them to more actively assist doctors in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases. Pharmaceutical education will be more closely linked to production: dual education will be expanded, the share of practical training increased, and students will be involved in production processes—from drug development to quality control and standardization.
The continuing professional development (CPD) system will also undergo radical changes. Medical and pharmaceutical workers with higher education will be required to accumulate at least 50 credits annually, while mid-level staff will need 28 credits. Bobur Turayev, a pediatric cardiac surgeon at TSMU, explained the necessity of such a system due to the rapid renewal of medical knowledge and technology: 'Medicine is a constantly changing field. New treatment and diagnostic methods are introduced every year, and the medicine a specialist learned upon graduation may change within a few years.'
Credits can be earned not only through CPD courses but also by attending conferences, completing online learning, or undergoing on-the-job training. To coordinate this system, the establishment of a Center for Continuous Professional Development has been proposed.
Source: www.gazeta.uz