The head of state held a meeting with healthcare and pharmaceutical workers today, congratulated them on their professional holiday, and discussed new initiatives for the sector's development.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sincerely congratulated doctors and nurses at a gathering held on the occasion of Healthcare Workers' Day for their contribution to the development of medicine and the pharmaceutical sector.
"Modern medicine is unimaginable without pharmaceuticals. Therefore, I propose to now call this holiday 'Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Workers' Day'," said the President.
The head of state emphasized that 230 trillion soums (20 billion dollars) have been allocated to the healthcare system in recent years. This year alone, 45 trillion soums have been allocated for the sector, which is six times more than in 2016. On this basis, 187 new hospitals and polyclinics have been commissioned, and another 1,244 medical institutions have been reconstructed and equipped with modern equipment.
The capacity of the primary healthcare system in our country has increased by 60 percent, and more than 400 high-tech procedures, previously performed only in the capital, are now being carried out in the regions. "For the first time, kidney transplant surgeries have been launched in 45 districts - this is a major achievement on the path to public health," said the President.
It was also noted that in recent years, the average life expectancy for men has increased from 71 to 73 years, and for women from 76 to 77.5 years. It was especially emphasized that these results are due to the selfless work of more than 600 thousand medical workers.
At the meeting, the President also addressed issues of curbing inflation and maintaining stable drug prices, criticizing the inefficient use of funds and equipment allocated to some centers. "Only 25 percent of the equipment's capacity is being used. If we do not change this situation, there will be no results in the sector," said the head of state.
Furthermore, the need for digitalizing medical institutions, attracting foreign partners, updating clinical protocols, and forming modern medical teams was underscored.
At the end of the meeting, the President awarded sector representatives with state awards. Among them were young doctors who studied abroad and returned to the country to perform advanced treatments.
