Uzbekistan to launch national program to combat cancer

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently reviewed proposals designed to improve oncological, hematological, and palliative medical services. The presentation focused on measures to prevent cancer, detect it at early stages, and upgrade treatment frameworks to align with international standards.

Under the new plan, the government aims to expand targeted screening coverage for the most common types of cancer to at least 60% of the population. Additionally, the initiative targets increasing the five-year survival rate among cancer patients from the current 35% to 45%.

To achieve these goals, the National Cancer Control Program – developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and international experts – will be phased into regions starting from 2027. The program will focus on enhancing the oncological alertness of primary healthcare workers, retraining them to recognize early symptoms of the disease, and strengthening referral systems so patients reach specialized facilities without delay. Furthermore, new clinical guidelines based on international recommendations will be adopted, introducing a multidisciplinary approach to oncology that allows patients to receive simultaneous diagnosis and treatment from multiple specialists.

The presentation also placed a strong emphasis on the development of palliative and hospice care, with a target to cover up to 80% of the population in need of these services by 2030.

A unified system for providing palliative and hospice care will be launched across the republic on September 1, 2026. This system will integrate medical and social services, utilizing an electronic information system to manage patient identification, registration, and service delivery. Mobile palliative care teams will also be established to provide medical and social services to critically ill patients at home, while dedicated hospice facilities will be gradually set up across all regions.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the president instructed officials to make oncological and hematological assistance more accessible to the public, widely implement modern diagnostic and treatment technologies, and ensure the high-quality execution of the specified tasks.