Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 4 June 2025, a symposium titled "Uzbekistan – Sweden: Strategic Partnership and Exchange of Experience in Oncology Care" was held in Tashkent.

The event took place within the framework of the 4th International Pharmaceutical Forum of Uzbekistan, supported by the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the embassies of Sweden and Uzbekistan in Sweden, healthcare organizers, doctors, experts, and patient community representatives from both countries.

They discussed the organization of oncology care services in Sweden and Uzbekistan, models that could potentially improve cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, as well as enhance access to new therapeutic methods and best clinical practices. In particular, the Swedish representatives presented their national strategy for cancer control and the economic benefits that personalized oncology care brings to the state. They also highlighted the importance of patient organizations within the healthcare system.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The most common types of cancer are breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers. Many types of cancer are curable if diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

The greatest number of breakthrough solutions in oncology are concentrated in the field of personalized medicine, which focuses on creating comprehensive individualized solutions for each patient, including diagnostics, treatment, and real-time monitoring. The most promising therapies for cancer are considered to be immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and gene therapy. Symposium participants emphasized the importance of making modern diagnostic and therapeutic methods as accessible as possible to the population.

A WHO survey reveals that in most countries, basic cancer treatment services are inadequately funded. There are disparities in treatment availability between countries of different income levels: for example, comprehensive therapy is available in over 90% of high-income countries but in less than 15% of low-income countries. WHO also projects that cancer incidence will increase globally. By 2045, the number of new cancer cases worldwide may rise to 32 million. In Uzbekistan, cancer cases could increase by 71% to 61,000 by 2045.

Thomas Danestad, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, emphasized: “Bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Sweden is actively expanding, and healthcare, along with related sciences, is one of the areas with the greatest potential.”

Mattias Lindgren, Swedish Trade Representative in Turkey, Head of the Swedish Trade and Investment Council in Eurasia and Turkey, Ph.D., stated: “Innovation in cancer diagnostics and treatment plays a key role in the global fight against cancer. However, integrating new technologies often faces budgetary constraints, requiring the establishment of a structured system to set priorities. We are pleased to support the exchange of experience between Sweden and Uzbekistan in expanding medical capabilities against cancer. It is important that the business community is included in this discussion, as such partnerships can accelerate the implementation of advanced therapeutic solutions. By integrating business approaches with scientific innovations, this cooperation optimizes healthcare processes, improving patient coverage and the economic efficiency of treatment. We take pride in our long-standing partnership in the Eurasia region with AstraZeneca and are ready to continue the joint dialogue between Sweden and Uzbekistan on healthcare system improvement.”

Sergey Kamyshov, oncologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, head of the chemotherapy department at the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Oncology and Radiology, noted: “Today, the Republic of Uzbekistan is implementing a large-scale strategy to transform oncology care. One of the priority goals is to reduce early cancer mortality by more than half. To this end, screening programs are actively being introduced, and molecular-genetic diagnostics are developing, enabling mutation detection and the prescription of personalized, including targeted, therapy. We observe steady growth in early diagnosis rates, which, in turn, requires expanding access to modern treatments. Funding for innovative drugs has increased significantly in recent years, with more than half of the budget now allocated to targeted therapies. This allows saving the lives of thousands of patients for whom a cancer diagnosis was once a death sentence. It is particularly important that these changes are occurring in an atmosphere of open international dialogue. The experience of countries with developed healthcare systems, including the Kingdom of Sweden, plays a crucial role in rethinking our approaches. The Swedish model is characterized by systematization, sustainability, and patient-centeredness — precisely the benchmarks we aspire to.”

Fedor Novikov, Head of Frontier Markets at AstraZeneca Russia and Eurasia, added: “Today, scientific and medical advancements allow cancer to be detected at very early stages, and researchers worldwide are developing innovative cancer therapies that significantly improve patients’ prognoses and, in some cases, offer hope for a cure. Examples include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and cell therapy, all of which AstraZeneca invests in globally. Moreover, global medicine is moving into the era of personalized therapy, where drugs are created not just to treat a specific disease or tumor type but tailored to the individual patient. The key issue remains their accessibility. It is important not only to develop innovations but also to implement them in clinical practice, providing people access to the most effective treatments. AstraZeneca, as an international company with Swedish roots and one of the leaders in oncology treatment, is pleased to support the exchange of experience between Uzbekistan and Sweden in improving oncology care.”

He noted that AstraZeneca is actively expanding its portfolio of targeted therapies in Uzbekistan and striving to make them more accessible to patients. The company is introducing new drugs to the market that complement standard treatment regimens for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and hematologic malignancies.