Uzbekistan has announced a comprehensive restructuring of its medical education and training framework, alongside new financial incentives for healthcare professionals. The changes were detailed during an official meeting held on October 27 with representatives from the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, addressing longstanding systemic shortcomings.

According to the authorities, while the nation's 11 state universities currently graduate around 15,000 doctors annually, graduates are allegedly not fully prepared to handle patient care from day one. It was asserted that no amount of modern clinic construction or advanced equipment acquisition can yield results without highly qualified personnel, and that medical errors carry an unacceptable human cost.

To bridge the gap between theory and practice, the government plans to mandate that students spend three days a week engaged in practical patient care starting in 2027, with the final academic year conducted entirely within medical facilities. Furthermore, residency programs across various specializations will become entirely free of charge, accompanied by a monthly stipend of 3 million soms and durations ranging from two to five years.

Additional incentive measures include district-level competitions awarding top doctors and nurses with substantial prizes, such as electric vehicles, alongside the proposed establishment of the Avicenna State Award. Plans are also underway to introduce a unified electronic registry for medical professionals, which is slated to become mandatory by 2030.

Source: www.gazeta.uz