New material incentives and support measures for healthcare and pharmaceutical workers are set to be introduced in Uzbekistan. These initiatives were detailed during a meeting between the country's leadership and medical professionals, aimed at addressing systemic challenges within the national health sector.
For the first time this year, regional competitions in the 'Best Doctor' and 'Best Nurse' categories are being held for district-level staff. Winners of these preliminary contests are slated to receive monetary prizes worth 30 million soms, with reward mechanisms expected to expand significantly next year.
According to the announced plans, 14 doctors who win the regional stage next year will be awarded electric vehicles, while the authors of the ten best projects promoting a healthy lifestyle will receive grants of 200 million soms each. The country's leadership emphasized that regardless of how many modern clinics are built or advanced equipment is purchased, tangible results remain impossible without qualified personnel.
Reports indicate that currently, 11 state higher educational institutions produce 15,000 doctors annually, though not all graduates are reportedly fully prepared to handle patients from their very first day on the job. To address this gap, the training of medical personnel will be more closely integrated with practical clinical experience.
Beginning next year, students will reportedly spend three days a week learning practical patient care, while graduates will spend their entire final academic year gaining hands-on experience within medical facilities. Furthermore, additional monthly salary allowances are being introduced to support medical staff financially.
Specifically, nurses who have completed a bachelor's degree will receive an extra 1.5 million soms, master's degree holders will get 2.5 million soms, and narrow-profile specialists in family medicine will be granted 5.5 million soms. Additionally, the authorities are implementing 'New Uzbekistan Medical Standards' encompassing education, infrastructure development, and patient safety protocols.
Source: uznews.uz