By a presidential decree signed on March 5, Uzbekistan has established a National Bio-Pharmaceutical Research Institute. This move aims to centralize and enhance scientific research in the pharmaceutical sector, potentially boosting domestic production of medicines and vaccines, though its long-term impact on the country's healthcare system remains to be seen.
The institute will be formed based on the Uzbek Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research Institute, the Tashkent Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, and the "Sharq Tabobati" (Eastern Medicine) Research Institute. All rights, obligations, contracts, funding sources, staff positions, property, and other material assets of these institutes will be transferred to the new entity, consolidating existing resources for more efficient operations.
The structure of the institute and the number of staff positions financed through the Pharmaceutical Network Support and Development Fund will be approved by the Pharmaceutical Network Development Agency. This step is intended to provide financial stability for research activities in pharmaceuticals, but its effectiveness in addressing broader challenges in the sector, such as innovation gaps or market competition, is yet to be evaluated.
The Ministry of Preschool and School Education will implement experimental educational programs starting from the 2026/2027 academic year at the Abu Ali ibn Sino specialized school, focusing on teaching the basics of life sciences through integration with the Pharmaceutical Technical University. The program will follow a STEM model, prioritizing fundamental knowledge in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and English in the first 3 years, and providing initial preparation based on natural sciences in the subsequent 2 years.
The curricula of grades 10-11 at the school and the first year of relevant bachelor's degree programs at the Pharmaceutical Technical University will be integrated, allowing additional subjects from the university's curriculum to be taught based on student choice. Higher education disciplines will be taught by the university's professors, with all costs covered by the university's extra-budgetary funds. School graduates who meet the specified requirements will be granted the right to continue their studies from the second year of the relevant university program without entrance tests or additional exams.
Source: www.gazeta.uz