The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reviewed plans for updating the national healthcare infrastructure within a unified master plan, as well as increasing the private sector's participation in this field.
The proposals include improving medical institutions by taking into account population size, demand for services, and accessibility of medical care. Currently, infrastructure development is uneven across different regions, the distribution of hospital beds is inefficient, and the use of outdated buildings and equipment negatively affects the quality of treatment.
One of the priority steps will be the creation of a reliable database of healthcare facilities. A survey conducted in 10 regions identified 3,499 medical institutions, which exceeds the data from the Cadastral Agency by 494 facilities. Authorities proposed conducting such a survey nationwide, issuing electronic passports for each facility, and forming a unified digital registry.
Based on the collected data, master plans for the development of the healthcare infrastructure for the period from 2026 to 2036 will be developed. These plans will take into account demographic trends, the need for medical services, the capacity of existing institutions, as well as the time patients need to travel to hospitals and clinics.
The master plans will determine which institutions should be preserved, merged, or renovated, where new facilities need to be built, what equipment they will require, and how much medical personnel should be involved. Investment programs corresponding to these plans will also be developed.
The proposed system will link medical institutions based on the level of care they provide. Complex and high-tech services will be concentrated in specific referral centers, while basic and emergency care must remain accessible in districts. Separate service standards will be applied for primary health care in cities, rural areas, and remote settlements.
The need for resource redistribution was demonstrated using the example of the Samarkand region. Although districts provide care for 80% of the region's population, they have only 41.7% of hospital beds. According to the proposed master plan, after reorganizing healthcare zones, the share of beds in districts should increase to 67%.
Projects for the construction and reconstruction of hospitals are being considered in Samarkand, Urgut, Pastdargom, Kattakorgan, Istik, and Payarik. The proposals include consolidating specialized institutions in the regional center around multidisciplinary hospitals, as well as developing central laboratories, sterilization services, and diagnostic capacities.
By 2030, the creation of 1,500 additional hospital beds is planned in Urgut, Kattakorgan, and Pastdargom.
Special attention is paid to the design standards of medical institutions. New buildings must ensure patient mobility, infection control, accessibility for people with disabilities, and proper equipment. It is expected that clinical practice will integrate protocols adapted to national conditions and based on international recommendations, with regular evaluation of their effectiveness.
The presentation also included a draft resolution aimed at expanding the private sector's participation in healthcare. Proposals include outsourcing certain medical and auxiliary services, such as hemodialysis, laboratory tests, diagnostic examinations, and equipment maintenance.
To attract long-term investments, the authorities proposed cooperation agreements lasting up to five years instead of annual contracts. Under the proposed model, the state medical institution will purchase the service, while its private partner will finance the acquisition of necessary equipment, operate it, and ensure its replacement or modernization.
Discussions also covered the introduction of standardized tender documents and an electronic procurement system, as well as the possibility of transferring some medical institutions to the management of specialized companies.
After the presentation, Mirziyoyev instructed officials to refine the proposals and ensure their phased implementation.