Uzbekistan is modernising its healthcare system with new hospitals, advanced pediatric care and a rapidly expanding private sector. Digital health systems, regional services and medical education are also improving, making quality healthcare more accessible nationwide.
Uzbekistan is undergoing a sweeping overhaul of its healthcare system as part of the national “Uzbekistan–2030” development strategy. Between 2021 and 2025, the government invested around €16.3 billion in the sector, including €3.2 billion in 2025 alone, to modernize infrastructure, expand services, improve medical education and encourage private-sector growth.
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Digital healthcare for smarter, faster services
The unified national electronic information system, DMED, has registered the medical data of around 37 million citizens, issuing a single electronic medical card (MED-ID) nationwide. This digital healthcare management system stores electronic medical records, allows appointment booking, test results, and electronic prescriptions via a mobile app, centralising data and streamlining interactions between patients and healthcare providers.
“The digital system allows for more efficient access to patient information and better coordination between hospitals and primary care facilities,” said Olim Omonov, Deputy Minister of Health.
In Tashkent’s Yunusobod district, paper-related costs were cut, and laboratory procedures that previously took seven to eight minutes per patient step are now completed in half the time, allowing doctors to spend more time with patients. “Thanks to digitalization, maximum consultation time per patient has dropped from 30 minutes to just 17 minutes,” explained Shoira Abdusattorova, Head of the Yunusobod Medical Association.
“Looking ahead, we’re planning to launch over ten AI-based healthcare projects in 2026, improve infrastructure, and train more than 200,000 specialists to use the system effectively,” Omonov added.
National children’s medical centre leading pediatric care
Among the most remarkable achievements is the National Children’s Medical Center, established with support from South Korea. The centre now performs complex pediatric surgeries previously only possible abroad, including liver and bone marrow transplants, as well as laparoscopic kidney surgeries. Stem cells are now isolated domestically from peripheral blood for domestic treatments, reducing the need for overseas care.
“It was approved by the President and built in just three years, designed to meet international standards and equipped with the latest technology,” said Baxtiyorjon Umarov, the center’s director. “Today, medical care for children under 18 and advanced procedures like liver and bone marrow transplants are performed in Uzbekistan with government funding.”
The centre has received Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, as the global gold standard for healthcare, becoming the first public medical institution in Uzbekistan to meet this benchmark. “For the first time, we performed bone marrow transplants for children with cancer locally. Families no longer need to travel abroad, paying tens of thousands of dollars,” Umarov noted. The center also serves as a model for regional facilities. A new centre in Karakalpakstan will adopt the same management and medical protocols.
Private clinics expand access and quality
Uzbekistan’s private healthcare sector has more than tripled in eight years, from around 3,000-3,500 clinics in 2017 to over 9,000 by 2025. Private providers now account for between 30-35% of healthcare services.
Public-private partnerships play a key role in this growth. The International Finance Corporation supports modernization projects, while major hospital construction initiatives under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework complement the public system.
M-Clinic, one of Tashkent’s largest private multispecialty centers, offers over 1,000 medical services across more than 20 specialties, including neurology, major surgery, radiology, and pediatrics. An on-site hotel accommodates out-of-town patients, and in 2024, the clinic received national accreditation for meeting state quality standards. “The clinic provides full care across all specialties, ensuring patients have access to high-quality treatment,” explained Nargiza Mirbabayeva, Head of the Children’s Department.
“I had a varicose vein for 30 years and could not get surgery done abroad. This clinic is excellent,” said Luis Goitia, a patient from Venezuela.
Uzbekistan is emerging as a regional medical hub, attracting international investment. “Notable projects include a multidisciplinary clinic with Cleveland Clinic and the Tashkent Smart Medical City project, valued at €4.65 billion,” explained Jaloliddin Asomiddinov, Head of the Center for Licensing and Accreditation of Medical Organizations.
Modernizing medical education
Medical education is also being restructured to meet international standards. Tashkent State Medical University and Urgench State Medical Institute now offer integrated programmes, including undergraduate, master’s, clinical residency, and advanced training courses, many of which are internationally accredited.
“Our university has over 30,000 students, combining theory with practical experience,” said Abror Hamroyev, Head of Internal Medicine at Tashkent State Medical University. “Students spend half their time in clinics and hospitals, gaining hands-on experience.”
A key innovation is the use of simulation centers, described by Dinora Parpibayeva, Head of the Clinical Simulation Department. “Our simulation center is the most advanced in the country. Students practice on realistic simulators in first aid, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics, ensuring they master practical skills before interacting with real patients,” she added.
Simulation centers also incorporate artificial intelligence and digital technologies, allowing students to learn diagnostics, interpret imaging results, and assess complex clinical situations.
Extending care beyond cities
While capital cities lead in modernization, regional healthcare is also improving. Uzbekistan has established 231 maternity complexes and 46 inter-district perinatal centres, equipped with ventilators, incubators, and intensive care monitors, totaling €40.46 million. Retinal cameras screen premature infants for retinopathy in remote regions, enabling diagnosis with AI-assisted precision.
“Since 2026, all newborns undergo genetic and congenital disorder screenings at the district and town level, covering over 900,000 annual births,” said Elmira Bositkhonova, Deputy Minister of Health.
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