Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health has launched an inquiry after a video circulated on social media showing child patients cleaning walls at the Republican Children’s Medical Rehabilitation Center. The ministry’s press service said preliminary checks established that the incident took place on November 11, 2026. The center, which began operating in March 2026, provides rehabilitation services for patients under 18 with conditions affecting the nervous system, orthopedics, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal tract. The video prompted public concern because it appears to show minors being asked to perform cleaning work.
Key Takeaways: The Ministry of Health has formed a working group to examine how children at the rehabilitation center were involved in cleaning walls. According to preliminary findings, at about 07:20 on November 11, 2026, a housekeeping employee saw footprints on corridor walls and the children who left them were then engaged in cleaning. The ministry says measures will be taken against responsible staff, but the specific penalties have not yet been disclosed.
The case touches on broader questions of child safeguarding, medical ethics, and internal oversight at institutions caring for minors. The Republican Children’s Medical Rehabilitation Center is described by the ministry as specializing in rehabilitation for children with neurological, orthopedic, respiratory, and digestive conditions. Its internal rules provide for daily morning hygiene procedures, temperature checks, and other necessary medical care. The reported involvement of patients in housekeeping duties has therefore drawn public attention to how staff responsibilities and patient welfare are monitored.
According to the ministry’s statement, preliminary inquiries found that the incident occurred on the morning of November 11, 2026. The housekeeping employee arrived at work at 07:20 and, while checking cleanliness, noticed footprints on the walls of a corridor. The children said to have caused the footprints were subsequently involved in cleaning the walls. These details are central to the review because they concern the conduct of staff at a medical facility serving minors and the circumstances that led to patients being assigned cleaning tasks.
The Ministry of Health said it had set up a working group and that, based on the results of the inquiry, appropriate measures would be taken against employees who allowed the situation, in line with established procedures. It also noted that the Republican Children’s Medical Rehabilitation Center has operated since March 2026 and is intended to provide specialized rehabilitation services to children. So far, no specific disciplinary or other measures against the staff involved have been made public.
The public and parents are now awaiting the final results of the ministry’s inquiry, including any decisions on responsible staff and additional steps to strengthen child safety at the center. The case is likely to fuel wider discussion about internal control, staff accountability, and transparency in children’s medical institutions. Further official clarification is expected after the review is completed. No timeline for the release of the final findings has been announced.
Source: kun.uz