On November 10, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with medical and pharmaceutical workers.

The Head of State warmly congratulated those present on Medical Workers' Day and expressed his deep respect for all doctors, nurses, and specialists in the field.

Given the role of pharmaceuticals in modern medicine, it was proposed to henceforth celebrate this holiday as “Medical and Pharmaceutical Workers' Day.”

The meeting addressed issues requiring resolution and identified new tasks and opportunities.

Over the past five years, 7.5 trillion soums have been allocated to specialized medical centers, which have been equipped with thousands of pieces of modern equipment. Despite this, only 25 percent of the equipment is being used.

It was noted that specialized centers, regional and district health departments and divisions should give priority to digitalization, finding foreign partners, updating clinical protocols, introducing advanced diagnostics, prevention and treatment, and forming modern professional teams.

The necessity of analyzing the situation in each mahalla and district has been determined: where the incidence is growing, where it is decreasing, and on this basis, to work on clear plans for prevention and treatment. It was emphasized that it is important to ensure the effective use of expensive equipment purchased at great expense.

- Today, people's attitudes toward life, their demands and needs, and their worldview have changed. This presents us with new challenges in improving quality and introducing modern approaches to medicine. Therefore, we will introduce a system in which the voice of the people will be heard, - said the Head of state.

Now, the directors of 26 specialized centers, regional and district health officials, and heads of family clinics will work according to specific monthly plans.

The heads of the centers will visit the most problematic areas and mahallas, work there for a month, study the causes of morbidity, propose solutions, and train doctors in district hospitals and clinics in treatment methods.

From now on, daily meetings with regional and district health officials will be held at the mahalla level.

It was specified that every health care system official—at the regional and district levels, chief physicians, and polyclinic directors—is required to ensure attentive treatment of patients and create conditions for them to receive assistance as quickly as possible.

Starting in the new year, a new procedure will be introduced for appointing directors of 26 centers, heads of regional and district health departments, and heads of family clinics. In all medical institutions, the positions of director and chief physician will be separated. Entrepreneurs with management training and proven results will be appointed to leadership positions.

The incentive system will also be changed. The best regional and district health care units and heads of family clinics will be awarded the title of “Honored Health Care Worker of Uzbekistan,” presented with orders and medals, and given cash bonuses of 30 million soums. To improve the infrastructure of the institutions they manage, 500 million soums will be allocated to each.

In each region, the two best managers – of the district department and the family clinic – will be sent for management training in the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Korea, and Türkiye.

- As we continue to reform medical education, we must develop the institution of the family doctor, who is capable of providing qualified care to all family members, - said the President.

Starting next academic year, medical universities will open general medicine departments combining pediatrics and general medicine. Residency and master's programs in family medicine will be launched.

Residency students will study free of charge and work as family doctors at the same time. After completing their residency, graduates will receive a diploma in a narrow specialty and a 150% salary bonus.

In the bachelor's program, students' knowledge will be assessed in fundamental and clinical disciplines, and after completing their residency, doctors will take a specialty exam, then undergo state registration, and only then will they receive the right to practice medicine.

It was noted that it is necessary to train nurses who will assist doctors not only in simple procedures, but also in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The Nursing Academy will be transferred to the structure of Tashkent State Medical University, and the Higher Academy of Professional Medicine will be created on its basis.

Starting next year, all medical universities will offer a degree in “advanced nursing,” with quotas doubling, and from 2027, they will increase by at least 20 percent annually. Nurses with higher education will receive a 100 percent salary supplement. At the same time, the training system for mid-level medical personnel will be modernized.

It was emphasized that modern doctors must be proficient in the latest technologies, diagnostic and treatment methods, and constantly work on improving their skills.

In this regard, a new system of continuous professional development for medical workers is being created. Starting next year, such types of professional development as distance learning, robot simulators, and independent learning in the workplace will be established. A Center for Continuing Professional Medical Education will be created to develop requirements and evaluation criteria.

The Head of State noted that 30 percent of medical services are already provided by the private sector and that many advanced initiatives originate from it, emphasizing his willingness to consider proposals for expanding public-private partnerships.

Support for private healthcare will continue. Starting next year, tax breaks for importing medical equipment and ambulances will be extended for three years.

The VAT refund privilege currently available to catering establishments will be extended to private medical organizations. Entrepreneurs will be granted a preferential credit line of $200 million to establish and equip modern multidisciplinary clinics.

The President also announced additional benefits and support measures reflected in the decree signed the day before, “On measures to support medical and pharmaceutical workers.”

During the meeting, an open dialogue took place, and proposals and opinions from representatives of the sector were heard.

- I believe that a white coat is not just a symbol of the profession, but a sign of boundless devotion to the Motherland. We will continue to protect the honor and dignity of every medical worker and create decent conditions for them. I am confident that together we will turn New Uzbekistan into a state with a developed healthcare system, - said the President concluding the meeting.

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