Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with a presentation on the activities and new proposals of the Center for Healthcare Projects on 21 May.

The Center for Healthcare Projects, organized in accordance with the Presidential Decree from 22 January  2024, developed proposals to improve primary healthcare and the emergency medical care system, introduce state health insurance and streamline the procurement of medicines.

The presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of these areas.

It was noted that over the past 7 years, the volume of financing of the healthcare system has increased from 5.9 trillion to 33.5 trillion soums, that is, 6 times. Hospitals are being equipped with modern equipment and new ones are being built. In order to bring medicine closer to the people, screening examinations are carried out locally.

As the analysis shows, in this area only 30 percent of the population’s appeals are resolved at the primary level. Treatment of some diseases is carried out using outdated methods. The range of tasks that nurses can perform is limited.

In this regard, based on international requirements, treatment methods for 7 of the most common diseases today, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and chronic lung diseases, bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis and others, have been updated. By the end of the year, another 300 clinical protocols will be revised. Functions such as ordering routine tests for patients and administering non-drug therapy will be transferred from doctors to nurses. The routing of patients will be streamlined in clinics, which will reduce the waiting time in line for an appointment.

As you know, three years ago a health insurance system was introduced in Syrdarya region as an experiment. It identified many shortcomings in the field.

Due to insufficient digitalization of medical institutions, the insurance system does not function fully. Doctors spend a lot of time filling out reports.

In this regard, the task has been set to create a model of digitalization of the sphere in Tashkent. For this purpose, all institutions will be equipped with new computers and technical means. By the end of the year, the Electronic Clinic and Electronic Hospital systems will be launched.

Following the implementation of these measures, state health insurance mechanisms will be introduced in the capital in 2024. At the same time, the system will be financed by general taxes paid by citizens; no additional fees will be levied on the population.

Within the framework of health insurance:

- a guaranteed package of free medical services and medicines provided by the state will be introduced;

- a system will be organized to refer patients to specialized specialists or hospitals through assigned family doctors. Free medical services will be provided only if this order is observed;

- medicines within the guaranteed package will be provided free of charge to the population through pharmacies on the basis of an electronic prescription for the treatment of the most common diseases.

During the analysis of the emergency medical care system, it was noted that the main problem is related to the lack of sorting of calls according to the severity of the disease.

In this regard, a decision was made to establish medical consultations for patients through emergency call centers. This year in Tashkent, and next year in other regions, teams of paramedics and pediatricians will be created. System employees will be retrained in the specialties of a consultant doctor, call triage operator and paramedic.

At the presentation, special attention was also paid to the issue of creating a real need for medicines, their purchase and timely delivery to places. Instructions were given to improve the list of medicines and medical devices purchased on the basis of direct contracts, as well as the procurement process itself.

The head of state emphasized the importance of disease prevention and increasing people’s sense of responsibility for their health through the widespread promotion of healthy lifestyle ideas in society.