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Pharmaceuticals

EBRD Provides €20 Million Loan to Expand Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Production

Uzbekistan is taking further steps to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system through new investment and sector reforms aimed at reducing reliance on imported medical products. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of up to €20 million to its long-term client Samarkand England Eco-Medical (SEEM) and its sister company, Bayan Medical. Both companies produce intravenous solutions, including sodium chloride, glucose, and amino acid infusions, as well as generic and specialized medicines in tablet and capsule form. The financing will support the installation of new production lines at SEEM, enabling the company to expand manufacturing of in-glass intravenous solutions, antibiotics, syrups and suspensions, medical-grade water, nasal sprays, suppositories, and ointments. Part of the funds will also be allocated to modernizing Bayan Medical’s facilities, including energy-efficiency upgrades and the installation of a blow-fill-seal ampoule production line and other specialized equipment. The companies are also expected to restructure their balance sheets as part of the project. The investment comes at a time when approximately 75% of medical goods used in Uzbekistan are imported. Expanding domestic production capacity is intended to promote localization, strengthen supply security, and align manufacturing standards with international requirements. The project also includes social and workforce components. Bayan Medical plans to introduce internship opportunities for university graduates, expand professional training programs for employees, and create new jobs, including positions accessible to people with disabilities. To date, the EBRD has invested nearly $6.9 billion (€5.8 billion) in Uzbekistan across 205 projects, the majority of which have supported private sector development. Uzbekistan has been the largest recipient of EBRD funding in Central Asia for six consecutive years, reflecting sustained economic reforms and investor engagement. Healthcare indicators point to broader structural progress. According to the 2024 Health Care Index published by CEOWORLD magazine, Uzbekistan ranks first in Central Asia and 64th globally, with a score of 36.26. Kazakhstan ranks 78th, and Turkmenistan 95th. Data from the World Health Organization and the World Bank indicate that Uzbekistan’s Universal Health Coverage service index rose from the mid-50s in 2000 to the mid-70s by 2021, suggesting expanded access to essential medical services. Authorities aim to further increase coverage by 2027 while reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending through strengthened primary care systems and clearer guarantees of publicly funded services.

Education

Kazakhstan Moves to Require Content Creators and Online Course Authors to Confirm Qualifications

Kazakhstan is preparing new legislative measures that would tighten requirements for content creators and authors of online courses who publish educational content. Under the proposed rules, such materials would have to include confirmation of the author’s relevant education or professional qualifications. The initiative is outlined in an official response by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov to a parliamentary inquiry regarding the regulation of online educational content. According to Bektenov, a draft law on online platforms and mass media has already been developed, along with amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. The proposed legislation would require users of online platforms who distribute educational courses or training materials in a specific field to disclose information confirming their qualifications, including details of a diploma or certificate. The government also plans to introduce administrative liability for online platforms operating in Kazakhstan that fail to comply with authorized bodies’ orders to remove illegal content. Authorities note that existing legislation already provides for advertising and selling unregistered medicines and prescription drugs. Bektenov stated that state bodies continuously monitor social networks and cooperate with the administrations of major platforms, including Meta and TikTok, to remove prohibited content. According to him, up to 91% of identified violating materials are removed from TikTok. Oversight is also conducted through the Cyber Surveillance system, which tracks advertisements related to pyramid schemes, online casinos and drug trafficking. Over the past year, authorities identified and blocked more than 13,800 pieces of content promoting drugs, more than 34,700 posts advertising online casinos and over 13,500 materials involving citizens in pyramid schemes. Access to the relevant resources was restricted, and site owners were issued warnings. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that members of the Senate, the upper house of parliament, had proposed introducing licensing requirements for content creators in response to widespread violations of the ban on advertising online casinos on social networks and messaging platforms.

Healthcare

Uzbekistan and Russia to Develop Nuclear Medicine Strategy Ahead of 2026 Center Opening

Uzbekistan will develop a roadmap and long-term strategy for the advancement of nuclear medicine, according to the press service of the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, Uzatom. The announcement followed a working meeting held on February 10 at Uzatom to discuss prospects for expanding nuclear medicine in the country. The meeting brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Healthcare Projects Center, the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Academy of Sciences, the state enterprise Radiopreparat, leading medical centers, and experts from Rosatom’s engineering division, underscoring growing cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia in the sector. During the discussions, the Russian side presented its experience in building modern nuclear medicine infrastructure, including cyclotron complexes, radiopharmaceutical production facilities, and PET/CT diagnostic centers, as well as implementing turnkey international projects. Following the talks, the parties agreed to jointly draft a roadmap and strategy that will provide a framework for technology transfer, specialist training, and improvements in healthcare services. The initiative is intended to strengthen early cancer diagnosis and expand access to advanced treatment methods based on nuclear technologies. The construction of a Nuclear Medicine Center in Tashkent has begun. The center is scheduled to be equipped in 2026 with PET/CT scanners, a cyclotron, a radiopharmaceutical laboratory, as well as Gamma Knife and CyberKnife systems. The broader program also involves upgrading oncology services, promoting early cancer detection, training medical personnel to international standards, and deepening cooperation with Russia and Rosatom. Uzatom stated that it will continue to support the introduction of advanced technologies aimed at improving access to modern cancer diagnostics and treatment. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, citing IQVIA data, Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical market reached $2.14 billion in the twelve months to September 2025, reflecting continued expansion and rising demand for medical services.

Nipah Virus

Kyrgyzstan Bans Animal Imports from India to Prevent Nipah Virus Spread

On January 28, Kyrgyzstan’s Veterinary Service imposed temporary restrictions on the import of live animals and animal products from India in response to confirmed cases of Nipah virus infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus is a severe zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, such as fruit bats or pigs, or through consumption of food contaminated by bat secretions. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through close contact. The virus has an estimated case-fatality rate of 40% to 75%. Two confirmed cases of Nipah virus were reported in late December in India’s eastern state of West Bengal. Both infected individuals were healthcare workers. Following these reports, authorities in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia intensified airport screenings to contain the risk of cross-border transmission. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health has issued a statement urging the public to remain calm, noting that no cases of Nipah virus have been registered in the country. The ministry assured that the healthcare system is prepared to respond swiftly to potential epidemiological threats. As a preventive measure, sanitary and quarantine controls have been tightened at Kyrgyzstan’s border crossings. The ministry continues to collaborate with the WHO and other international partners to monitor developments and coordinate containment efforts. In neighboring Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Health issued a similar statement confirming that no cases of Nipah virus infection have been detected and that the epidemiological situation remains under control. As a precaution, Kazakhstan has also enhanced screening procedures at all border checkpoints, with special attention to travelers arriving from India and Southeast Asia.

Healthcare

More Doctors in Tajikistan, but Shortages Persist

Despite a modest increase in the number of healthcare professionals, Tajikistan continues to face a significant shortage of medical personnel, particularly in rural regions. Authorities are hoping to bridge the gap through the recruitment of medical school graduates and the redistribution of existing specialists. At a press conference on January 28, Minister of Health and Social Protection Jamoliddin Abdullozoda reported that as of early 2026, there were 22,419 doctors and 64,909 mid-level medical personnel working in the country’s healthcare system. These figures represent a year-on-year increase of 1.9% and 2.3%, respectively. However, the staffing deficit remains unresolved. Tajikistan currently lacks 1,432 medical specialists. According to ministry estimates, the staffing rate for doctors stands at 94.3%, while for mid-level personnel it is 99.7%. These figures reflect slight improvements over the previous year, up 0.8% and 0.1%, respectively. The shortage is unevenly distributed across the country. In July 2025, the minister had noted a shortfall of 1,600 specialists for the first half of the year, indicating a reduction of nearly 170 positions in the latter half. Nevertheless, the situation remains critical in remote and underserved areas. Abdullozoda highlighted acute shortages in family medicine, as well as in the specialties of narcology, phthisiology, and radiology. In some regions, there is also a lack of gynecologists and surgeons. To address immediate needs, the ministry has compiled lists of district-level doctors who will be deployed to remote areas on a rotating basis. Authorities are also promoting personnel retraining to fill urgent gaps. “We are proposing that regions with shortages – for instance, if they lack radiologists – receive specialists from related fields such as surgery or traumatology. These doctors will undergo advanced training and then serve where they are most needed,” the minister explained. In the long term, the government plans to solve the shortage by mobilizing young professionals. According to Abdullozoda, if at least 50% of medical school graduates begin working in their field of study, the staffing issue could be resolved. The total number of students in medical universities reached 26,911 in 2026, an increase of 2,738 over the previous year. Enrolments in medical colleges also saw significant growth, with 80,000 students in the 2025–2026 academic year, up from 72,760 the year before.

Healthcare

Vaccine Refusals Nearly Quadruple in Kazakhstan Over Eight Years

The number of vaccine refusals in Kazakhstan has surged nearly fourfold over the past eight years, according to Sarkhat Beisenova, Chair of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee at the Ministry of Health. Speaking at a recent briefing, Beisenova said the rise in vaccine hesitancy reflects a broader global trend that has also taken hold in Kazakhstan. “If we compare with 2017, the number of refusals has increased by a factor of 3.8. At that time, around 5,300 individuals declined vaccination; this year, nearly 20,000 have already been registered. The increase is evident,” she said. Beisenova noted that refusals span all types of vaccinations, except for flu shots, which, she said, no one has refused this year. As part of the country’s guaranteed volume of free medical care, the government purchased 2.1 million doses of the Grippol+ influenza vaccine, enough to cover about 11% of Kazakhstan’s 20.5 million population. So far, 1.9 million people, or 9.4% of the population, have been vaccinated. Free flu vaccination is offered to vulnerable groups, including healthcare workers, children with chronic illnesses, orphans, seniors over 65, people with disabilities, military personnel, pregnant women, and patients with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. “The World Health Organization forecasts that three strains of influenza, A (H1N1), A (H3N2), and B, will be dominant this season. All are included in the vaccine, which offers protection against severe forms of the disease,” Beisenova emphasized. Since the start of the flu season, Kazakhstan has recorded 84 cases of COVID-19, alongside 150,600 cases of acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) between October 30 and November 5. Since the beginning of autumn, the total has reached 1.2 million ARVI cases. Laboratories have also confirmed 304 cases of influenza A (H3N2), with 173 occurring in children under the age of 14. This year, the virus began circulating earlier than usual: the first cases appeared in early October, whereas last year’s outbreak began in November. According to Beisenova, this year’s strain is not new but consistent with typical seasonal influenza patterns. Annually, Kazakhstan registers up to 4 million ARVI cases and around 2,000 cases of influenza, the Ministry of Health reported. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, this year Kazakhstani citizens have also faced medicine shortages and a sharp rise in drug prices.