Why is this important
The introduction of free scheduled inpatient care under the health insurance system directly affects citizens’ access to treatment in public healthcare facilities. The postponement means that the announced social benefits will come into effect later than expected, which is important for patients planning treatment. The decision also reflects the readiness of the health insurance system and healthcare infrastructure to fully implement the new mechanisms.
What happened
- The leader of Uzbekistan signed a decree postponing the introduction of free scheduled inpatient medical care under state health insurance.
- The new deadline for the start of providing such assistance is set for July 1, 2026.
- The document also establishes a list of categories of citizens entitled to free scheduled inpatient medical care.
Numbers and facts
- The new start date for the service has been postponed to July 1, 2026, that is, six months later.
- The right to free assistance is granted to payers of personal income tax or social tax, as well as to persons who have paid taxes to calculate their work experience.
- The list of recipients also includes minors, students, pregnant women, caregivers of children under two years of age, officially registered unemployed persons, pensioners, as well as members of low-income and poor families included in state social security registries.
Context
- The postponement of the launch of free scheduled inpatient care means that the state health insurance mechanism will continue to operate in a transitional mode for another six months.
- For citizens, this shifts the deadlines for receiving new guarantees from the budget and insurance mechanisms.
- For the healthcare system, the postponement provides additional time for organizational and technical preparation.
