Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree aimed at improving the system of pharmaceutical and medical product procurement, according to the Ministry of Justice.

A key aspect of the reform will be the establishment of a Procurement Center, based on the organizations "Uzmedimpeks" and the Training and Production Center for Medical Equipment Services under the Ministry of Health. Regional branches of the center will begin operating outside of Tashkent.

Starting from 1 January 2025, direct contracts with manufacturers and official suppliers will be allowed for state procurement of original medicines.

The lists of such medicines will be established separately.

Direct contracts will also be used for the procurement of medical goods intended for emergency and urgent care, as well as reagents and consumables for laboratories with closed equipment.

To ensure transparency and legality in procurement, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes of the General Prosecutor’s Office has been tasked with overseeing the procurement process, including the targeted delivery of medicines and medical products.