Current Challenges
Uzbekistan faces significant challenges in healthcare with high mortality rates from various diseases. In 2018 the infant mortality rate was 19 deaths per 1 000 live births (compared to 9 in Kazakhstan).
The mortality rate for children under five was 21 per 1 000 live births (compared to 10 in Kazakhstan).
Maternal mortality was 29 deaths per 100 000 live births(compared to 10 in Kazakhstan).
There is a serious shortage of medical professionals. Since 2010, the number of doctors per 10 000 residents has dropped by 18%. According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health, the country needs at least 3 000 general practitioners and 10 000 specialists, including pediatricians, therapists, anesthesiologists, gynecologists, psychiatrists, radiologists, surgeons, and dentists. Additionally, thousands of nurses are needed, with at least 2 000 required in Tashkent alone.
Healthcare funding has also declined. Per capita healthcare spending dropped from $135 in 2016 to $84 in 2019. Similarly, healthcare’s share of GDP fell from 5.2% in 2016 to 4.3% in 2019.
Legal Framework for Telemedicine
Uzbekistan’s 2017-2021 Development Strategy aimed to improve healthcare access and quality. Several reforms were introduced to enhance primary care, emergency services, and medical support for vulnerable populations.
In 2018 a Presidential Decree on Healthcare System Reformlaid the foundation for Uzbekistan’s 2019-2025 Healthcare Development Concept and its implementation program.
Since 2021 the government has sought to address healthcare funding shortages through privatization and mandatory health insurance. The number of services private clinics can provide increased from 50 to 129 since 2017, and 1,650 private clinics have opened in the past two years.
In late 2023 a new Presidential Resolution (№ PP-415) was adopted to accelerate the digital transformation of healthcare and introduce advanced digital technologies.
The Growth of Telemedicine
In 2018 the government launched the Unified Telemedicine Network (UTN), allowing doctors to consult with patients in remote areas.
In 2021 Uzbekistan introduced its first online medical platform, XMed, which offers remote consultations with over 250 doctors via chat or video calls. The platform now has more than 20,000 registered users.
Given the high costs of healthcare, the shortage of doctors, and the need for improved medical services, Uzbekistan is actively collaborating with other countries to expand telemedicine services:
– Collaboration with Germany
• In 2020 Germany’s Robert Koch Institute and Charité Clinic (Berlin) helped supply telemedicine equipment to the Republican Emergency Medical Center and Zangiota District Hospital in Tashkent.
• In 2021 German company GITEC Consult launched a remote MRI image exchange system between Tashkent and eight regions of Uzbekistan. UNICEF also helped equip rural hospitals in Karakalpakstan with telemedicine tools.
• Later in 2021, Uzbekistan’s ITMed company, Robert Koch Institute, and GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation) introduced telemedicine solutions in hospitals in Fergana, Namangan, and Nukus (Karakalpakstan).
– Partnership with Russia
• In April 2022, Russian Digital Holding (a joint venture of MegaFon, USM Telecom, and the Uzbekistan government) signed a cooperation agreement with IT-Medto support Uzbekistan’s E-Health 2025 strategy. The plan includes creating a national medical database and integrated health information systems.
• In June 2023, Russian company Tsifromed and IT-Medsigned another agreement to digitize Uzbekistan’s healthcare sector, focusing on:
◦ Medical information systems for laboratory testing and radiology
◦ Digital services for emergency and telemedicine
◦ Artificial intelligence and genetic profiling for medical applications
– Cooperation with the USA and Turkey
In January 2022, Uzbekistan signed agreements with:
• Innovative Developers (USA)
• ProMED Career Institute (USA)
• Turkish Medical Tourism Association
• Tashkent Medical Academy’s Multidisciplinary Clinic
These partnerships focus on:
✔ Expanding telemedicine services in remote areas
✔ Improving remote diagnosis and treatment
✔ Connecting hospitals with foreign specialists via telemedicine
✔ Organizing training sessions, workshops, and roundtables
✔ Raising awareness about telemedicine through media campaigns
Uzbekistan is also negotiating with India and South Korea to further develop telemedicine consultations.
Telemedicine is becoming an important solution to Uzbekistan’s healthcare challenges. The country is making progress, but further investments and technological improvements are needed to establish a fully functioning telemedicine system.
Prepared by: Yerlan Karimov, independent expert, specifically for www.economyKZ.org
