Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In an online meeting, the Minister of Health of Uzbekistan, Asilbek Khudayarov, discussed key healthcare issues and new initiatives for improving medical services in Central Asia with Hans Kluge, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe.

Asilbek Khudayrov congratulated Hans Kluge on his re-election for a new term and expressed gratitude for the active attention that WHO has given to Central Asia, including Uzbekistan. The Minister noted that Kluge’s visit to the country in June 2024 served as an important impetus for further reforms in the healthcare system and for identifying key priorities and tools for addressing challenges in the field.

During the meeting, the parties discussed expanding cooperation in maternal and child health, non-communicable disease prevention, and the development of primary healthcare services. Special attention was given to improving the quality of perinatal services in light of the positive population growth dynamics in Uzbekistan, where the population now exceeds 37.5 million. Of this number, 25% are women of reproductive age, emphasizing the need to continue efforts to provide quality medical care for mothers and children.

One of the key proposals was the organization of a Subregional Conference in Tashkent with WHO’s support. The event will focus on identifying obstacles to the implementation and institutionalization of measures aimed at improving the quality of maternal and child healthcare in Central Asian countries.

This meeting marked an important step in strengthening Uzbekistan’s cooperation with WHO and in implementing strategies aimed at improving the health and well-being of the population in the region.