The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan explained why ambulance doctors ask questions about residence permit.
Earlier, rumors went viral on social networks that a person may be denied emergency medical care if he does not have a residence permit in Tashkent.
The Ministry noted that the main task of the ambulance service is to provide first medical aid in cases of threats to the lives of citizens. And this medical care is provided to the patient for free, regardless of whether he is a citizen of Uzbekistan or a guest from another country.
“When ambulance team arrives at the called address, the healthcare worker will ask for the place of registration of the patient. This is done in order to fill in the column “address of registration” on the call list. The next day, the clinic at the patient’s residence address is provided information about him who applied to the emergency medical service,” head of the emergency medical care department in Tashkent Nasiba Makhmudova explained.
It is necessary that after contacting the emergency medical service, the patient’s condition should be monitored by the general practitioner and health visitor of his clinic.
In addition, the address of registration determines which medical institution the patient can be delivered.
“Medical care is equally available for guests of Tashkent and those who have a temporary residence permit, as well as citizens who have a permanent residence permit in the capital. When providing emergency medical care, a residence permit is not necessary, even citizenship doesn’t matter,” head of the legal department at the Ministry of Health Ruslan Mukhammadiyev said.
He also recalled that treatment of the most common diseases, injuries, poisoning and other emergency conditions is carried out by the state healthcare system free of charge and without any obstacles (Article 29 of the Law “On protection of citizens’ health”).
Unjustified refusal to provide emergency medical care to a person, who is in a state dangerous to life or health, entails an appropriate punishment (Article 591 of the Administrative Responsibility Code).
If a patient needs hospitalization after being examined on the spot, the ambulance worker must take him to a hospital located in Tashkent.
