Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Karakalpak Branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Care.

Previously located in an old building with inadequate facilities—where 4-5 patients shared a room and sanitation facilities were communal—the center was not equipped to handle modern medical technology.

In line with the Presidential Decree "On Further Strengthening Public Health Protection in the Republic of Karakalpakstan in 2022-2024," which was issued on 7 July 2022, efforts are being made to improve the quality and scope of medical services.

As part of these efforts, a new building for the Karakalpak Branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Care was inaugurated in Nukus in February of this year. This is the first multipurpose hospital in Karakalpakstan built from scratch since the country’s independence.

The President personally inspected the new facilities.

The new four-story building houses departments for emergency reception and diagnostics, intensive care, surgery, neurosurgery, traumatology, cardiology, gynecology, pediatrics, laboratory diagnostics, and procedures. All departments are equipped with modern medical equipment.

The complex, with 130 beds, offers excellent conditions for both patients and medical staff. Each room accommodates two patients and has separate sanitation facilities.

Time is crucial in saving a patient’s life, which is why the center has established a triage unit that sorts patients based on the severity of their condition. This system ensures that patients receive timely and appropriate care without unnecessary delays.

Previously, many patients were hospitalized; now, depending on their condition, some can receive outpatient treatment. Modern angiographic equipment has significantly improved the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, reducing mortality and disability rates.

Complex surgeries that were once only performed in Tashkent are now being carried out at the center. For the first time in Karakalpakstan, open-heart surgeries using artificial circulation machines have been performed on five patients.

The facility is equipped with multislice computed tomography, ultrasound, and laboratory equipment for early disease diagnosis. Telemedicine also facilitates the treatment of patients from remote areas.

The President emphasized the importance of effective management and linking practice with education.

"The new building and equipment are just part of the work. It is crucial to implement modern management practices in the center. It would be beneficial to attract experienced doctors from countries with advanced medical systems on a temporary basis and to enhance the qualifications of our specialists abroad. Overall, this center should function as a scientific and practical medical academy," said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It is important for doctors from regional medical centers to enhance their qualifications at this center and apply their knowledge in their districts.

Notably, from 2017 to 2024, 74 family medicine points, 81 family polyclinics, and 92 rural medical points have been established in Karakalpakstan under the "One Step" principle. Specialized centers have introduced 150 new technologies. Annually, 4,500 patients receive high-tech medical care without the need to travel to Tashkent or abroad. Emergency and specialized medical assistance is provided to 11,000 patients each year at trauma and acute vascular disease centers in the Tortkul, Kungrad, and Chimbay districts.