Uzbekistan to establish National Medical Center for Neurology and Neurorehabilitation

A total of 1,500 clinical protocols will be adapted, standard operating procedures developed, and patient pathways for the most common diseases fully implemented and digitized.

In recent years, cases of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes have increased, often leading to strokes and heart attacks. In 85 percent of such cases, patients are left with disabilities. To address this, it has been proposed to introduce new protocols and approaches at the primary care level for prevention and treatment, making broad use of artificial intelligence. ECG telemetry, telemedicine, thrombolytic therapy, stenting, and thrombectomy will also be introduced. In addition, special attention will be given to raising public awareness and training citizens on how to recognize early signs of stroke.

To improve the treatment of neurological diseases and strokes, a National Medical Center for Neurology and Neurorehabilitation will be established. A modern 250-bed facility will be built in Tashkent, where more than 3,000 surgeries are expected to be performed annually. The center, along with the medical universities’ clinics in Samarkand and Bukhara, will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology. With the support of Japanese partners, an early rehabilitation service based on international standards will also be introduced. A total of 150 medical specialists will undergo advanced training and retraining abroad. Around $150 million will be allocated for the implementation of this project. These measures are expected to reduce disability and incapacity.

It was also proposed to map and digitize the existing healthcare system and, on this basis, develop a master plan for organizing medical institutions under a unified approach. The plan will include new construction standards, a review of 210 sanitary norms, and the development of standard designs for polyclinics and hospitals.

Laboratory operations will be modernized by establishing 198 centralized laboratories by 2030, introducing internal and external quality control, and digitizing all processes. The number of free laboratory tests will be increased.

Another proposal is to transform the Academy of Nurses by establishing the Academy of Professional Medicine at Tashkent State Medical University. With the support of international partners, joint training programs and international certification for nurses based on the NCLEX exam will be introduced. Admission quotas for bachelor-level nursing programs will gradually be expanded.

It was also proposed to accredit all educational programs in line with the requirements of international organizations, introduce an integrated educational program and a one-year internship in family medicine, implement a two-stage knowledge assessment system, and improve the student–teacher ratio. The amount of bedside practical training for students will also be increased. A system for registering healthcare workers will be gradually introduced.