Uzbekistan aims to halve child mortality by 2030

Abdumannop Abduqayumov, Director of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatrics, said the current child mortality rate in Uzbekistan stands at 14.3 deaths per 1,000 children. Under the national strategy for 2025–2030, the government aims to reduce the figure to eight per 1,000.

"Our goal is to nearly halve this indicator within five years. For comparison, the child mortality rate in European Union countries is below five per 1,000," Abduqayumov said.

According to the Ministry of Health, about 7,500 infant deaths were recorded in 2025, down from 8,300 a year earlier.

Abduqayumov said that 47% of infant deaths occur within the first 30 days of life, underscoring the importance of the neonatal period and the first weeks after discharge from maternity hospitals.

He identified premature infants, children born with congenital malformations, and those with inherited diseases as the main high-risk groups. More than 48,000 children are born with congenital and genetic disorders in Uzbekistan each year.

As part of the planned reforms, Uzbekistan will introduce a four-tier pediatric care system, monitor children's health through the unified DMed digital healthcare platform, and establish a national registry of patients with rare diseases.

The government also plans to open a modern genetic laboratory at the Pediatric Center with support from the German government. In addition, an artificial intelligence module will be integrated into the DMed system, with the aim of reducing diagnosis times to three to five days.

Over the coming years, the authorities intend to ensure that at least 95% of children undergo preventive health screenings and increase the share of high-tech medical services to 75%.