As part of ongoing reforms in the national healthcare system, state medical facilities in Uzbekistan are shifting toward purchasing critical services directly from private providers. This initiative was outlined by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a recent meeting with healthcare and pharmaceutical sector professionals.

The authorities noted a substantial expansion in private medical infrastructure, with the number of private clinics surging from 3,500 in 2017 to over 9,000 today. The private sector has notably outpaced public institutions in high-tech segments, commanding a 90 percent share in dentistry, 70 percent in diagnostics, and around 60 percent in fields such as otolaryngology, urology, and ophthalmology.

However, significant regional disparities persist across the country. While private clinics featuring inpatient beds account for 35 to 40 percent in regions like Andijan, Fergana, Namangan, Samarkand, and Tashkent city, the indicator remains below 15 percent in Karakalpakstan, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Navoi.

Under the newly proposed mechanism, state hospitals will procure services such as hemodialysis, laboratory testing, sterilization, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy from private businesses. Entrepreneurs will be allocated dedicated space within public medical facilities to install modern equipment, with services reimbursed through the national insurance framework.

To encourage long-term investments in medical infrastructure, the regulatory framework is expected to extend contract durations for medical service delivery from the current one-year term up to five years, providing private entities with greater financial stability and return on investment.

Source: www.gazeta.uz