The report illustrates key achievements to date, which include:
- the establishment of a state health insurance fund as a single purchasing agency contracting health facilities and pharmacies;
- better organized primary health care (PHC) services in the Syrdarya region;
- new provider payments and contracts with health facilities; and
- advanced electronic health (e-health) information systems used by pharmacies.
According to WHO-Europe, “through its Universal Health Coverage Partnership, WHO supported the development of the legal foundation for the reforms, including a presidential resolution establishing mandatory health insurance… These developments have laid a robust foundation for future changes and have increased capacity to develop a more efficient and responsive national health system.” After piloting the reforms in Syrdarya region, where the mandatory social health insurance was first introduced, Uzbekistan’s government plans to expand the reforms to the city of Tashkent and the region of Karakalpakstan. WHO recommends a general tax-funded health insurance system as the most feasible model for Uzbekistan and advises to carefully monitor the impact of newly implemented payment systems.
