Uzbekistan to introduce compulsory medical insurance in three stages 

The Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund will be created under the Cabinet of Ministers. Its territorial departments will appear in Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent. One of the main tasks of the Fund is to manage funds and implement mechanisms for compulsory medical insurance of citizens, accounting and movement of insured persons.

In 2021, an experiment will be conducted in the Syrdarya region, from 2023 it will be implemented in Karakalpakstan, Tashkent, Samarkand, Navoi, Surkhandarya and Fergana regions, and from 2025 – across the country, Norma reports.

The following will be transferred to the Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund:

- funds received from the State budget for basic compulsory medical insurance;

- earmarked deductions from excise taxes on tobacco products, alcohol, foods high in sugar, trans-fats, and other unhealthy diets;

- funds received from the State budget for the payment of compensation for the execution of court decisions;

- voluntary contributions and receipts under the contracts of gift of legal entities and individuals;

- grants from international organizations;

- funds received from charitable foundations, international organizations and foreign citizens;

- other income that does not contradict the national legislation.

At the same time, different payment methods will be introduced for rendering different types of assistance, taking into account their peculiarities:

- primary medico-sanitary care – a combined payment method based on a per capita rate with differentiated correction factors that take into account regional particularities, the type of institutions, population density and other factors, and the results of the quality of medical services provided;

- specialized/secondary outpatient care – a method of payment for specialized outpatient services;

- inpatient care – a method of payment for a “treated case” by clinical cost groups with a strategic limitation of the volume (maximum limits) in republican, regional and district (city) medical and preventive treatment facilities.

In the presented draft of the Financing Strategy for the healthcare of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2019-2025, the expected results of the introduction of compulsory medical insurance are indicated (see the table below).