Uzbekistan to relaunch "10,000 Steps" health initiative in May

Starting from May 1, 2026, Uzbekistan will officially resume the "10,000 Steps" experiment, a move aimed at fostering a healthier lifestyle and improving environmental awareness across the nation. The initiative will see the return of the "Healthy Lifestyle" platform, known as 1hls.uz, which previously incentivized citizens to stay active through financial rewards.

The revival of the program was formally announced following a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 23, 2026. During the session, which focused on priority nationwide projects for the 2026-2030 period in the fields of ecology and environmental protection, the President approved the inclusion of the walking program within the broader "Eco-culture" national project. This new framework seeks to integrate physical health with the development of ecological education and science.

To ensure the sustained operation of the 1hls.uz platform, the government plans to allocate UZS 10 billion annually from specialized funds. These resources will be used to support the technical infrastructure and the incentive system designed to encourage daily physical activity among the population.

The original platform was first launched in June 2021 to promote daily walking and running. Under the initial scheme, citizens who completed 10,000 steps in a single day were credited with UZS 3,000 to their digital wallets. Although the project gained significant popularity, it faced technical suspensions before being officially cancelled by presidential decree in April 2022. Its reintroduction in 2026 signifies a renewed commitment to public health under a more comprehensive environmental mandate.

The 2026 relaunch is not merely a health initiative but a key component of the "Eco-culture" project. By encouraging walking over motorized transport, the government aims to reduce the national carbon footprint while simultaneously tackling sedentary lifestyle issues.