The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan has reportedly adopted in the second reading and forwarded to the Senate a legislative bill aimed at officially establishing the Day of Medical and Pharmaceutical Workers. The document was supposedly drafted by the Ministry of Health to implement instructions allegedly issued by the country's leadership during interactions with healthcare professionals.

Under the proposed amendments, the second Sunday of November is intended to be designated as the official professional holiday for both medical and pharmaceutical personnel. Representatives of the responsible parliamentary committee stated that over 50,000 pharmaceutical specialists currently operate within the country alongside numerous manufacturing enterprises and thousands of pharmacies allegedly requiring enhanced societal recognition.

However, the parliamentary discussion revealed certain friction and critical inquiries among lawmakers regarding the decision to merge the two observances. Deputies pointed out that international practice traditionally marks World Pharmacist Day on September 25, questioning why a separate date was not considered for Uzbekistan. The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber acknowledged the validity of these questions, noting that if international experience is cited, the rationale behind selecting a combined approach requires thorough clarification.

Despite these debates and unanswered questions regarding international standards, the bill was ultimately approved in its second reading and dispatched to the upper house for further review. Proponents of the initiative claimed that the enactment of these legislative changes will supposedly require no additional appropriations from the state budget.

Source: www.gazeta.uz