Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced measures concerning private healthcare services, the allocation of land for medical facilities and the introduction of outsourcing mechanisms during a meeting with professionals from the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. The measures include allocating land for private clinics through auctions, establishing new medical facilities based on master plans and gradually transitioning to the procurement of medical services from private providers.
During the meeting, Mirziyoyev noted that the number of private clinics in Uzbekistan has increased from 3,500 in 2017 to more than 9,000. The private sector accounts for 90% of dentistry services, 70% of diagnostic services and 60% of ear, nose and throat (ENT), urology and ophthalmology services.
At the same time, differences remain in the availability of inpatient facilities at private clinics across the country's regions. In Andijan, Fergana, Namangan and Samarkand regions, as well as Tashkent city, between 35% and 40% of private clinics offer inpatient facilities. In Karakalpakstan, Syrdarya, Jizzakh and Navoi, this figure is below 15%.
The president also noted that private sector participation has not reached the expected level in several medical fields, including rehabilitation, nephrology, oncology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, narcology and maternity care. Priority will be given to these areas.
Under the announced measures, regional governors, or hokims, will annually identify and announce land plots designated for private clinics. These plots will be offered through auctions exclusively for this purpose and made available under favorable terms.
The meeting also addressed the planning of medical infrastructure in connection with population growth and the construction of new cities and residential districts. It was noted that without appropriate planning, some areas could experience shortages of hospitals, while existing facilities in other locations could remain underutilized.
"Therefore, new facilities will now be established based on a master plan, taking into account population size and geographical location," Mirziyoyev stated.
Uzbekistan will gradually transition toward procuring medical services from the private sector, with new outsourcing mechanisms being introduced. mUnder the announced measures, space within state hospitals will be allocated to entrepreneurs for the installation of modern medical equipment. Services provided through these facilities will be compensated through an insurance system.
Medical services including hemodialysis, laboratory testing, sterilization, rehabilitation and physiotherapy will also be procured from private providers. In each region, opportunities within the medical services market and the corresponding financing mechanisms will be announced under terms favorable to entrepreneurs.