Why is this important
This signals the rapid transformation of healthcare — the expanding role of private medicine, heightened competition, and a possible shift in the balance between public and private healthcare provision. The consequences impact availability, quality, prices, and regulation.
What happened
- In dentistry, the private sector provides 91% of services.
- In otorhinolaryngology and endoscopic otorhinolaryngology, about 70% of services are private.
- In ophthalmology — 60% of services.
- Private clinics provide ≈50% of urological and gynecological services.
- Accordingly, 40% of services in the private segment are accounted for by laboratory studies.
Context
- Uzbekistan’s legislation already includes measures to support the private sector in healthcare (benefits, licensing, expansion of activities).
- Nevertheless, there are limitations: for example, in high-tech and highly specialized areas, some types of work are still reserved for state institutions.
- The development of the private sector is especially active in dentistry, laboratory diagnostics, and narrow specializations.
- There is a geographical irregularity: the majority of private healthcare organizations are concentrated in Tashkent and Tashkent region; in rural areas, there are fewer.
