Healthcare - The Times Of Central Asia

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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

Japan Provides Grant for Digital Diagnostics in Dushanbe

The Japanese government is continuing to expand its humanitarian cooperation with Tajikistan, with a renewed focus on strengthening the healthcare system and improving public access to medical services. On January 27, a grant agreement totaling $352,530 was signed under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. The GGP initiative supports the development of social infrastructure in partner countries by funding projects in healthcare, education, and local government. In this case, the grant will be used to supply Health Center No. 14 in Dushanbe’s Sino district, one of the capital’s most densely populated areas, with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology. The center will receive three modern Japanese-made digital fluorographs, which are expected to significantly improve the accuracy and speed of diagnoses, particularly for infectious diseases. The integration of this technology is intended to enhance both the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in the district, contributing to the broader strengthening of Dushanbe’s healthcare infrastructure. Japanese Ambassador Keiko Furuta emphasized the strategic nature of Japan’s cooperation with Tajikistan, referencing the first Central Asia + Japan Dialogue Summit held in Tokyo last December. The summit reaffirmed healthcare as one of the priority areas of regional collaboration. Japan has provided assistance to Tajikistan for over 30 years, dating back to the establishment of diplomatic relations. Through the GGP alone, 470 humanitarian projects, totaling $39.2 million, have been implemented across the country since 1996. These projects have largely supported local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, and international NGOs.

Healthcare

Kazakh Science Ministry Expands Strategic Partnership with AstraZeneca

Kazakhstan has entered a new phase of cooperation with British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, expanding the partnership beyond healthcare into science, education, and innovation. On January 26, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek visited AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre in Cambridge, the company’s largest global research and innovation hub, where a memorandum of understanding was signed with AstraZeneca Kazakhstan. According to the ministry, the agreement paves the way for new areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening national scientific capacity, introducing advanced medical technologies, and enhancing the long-term sustainability of Kazakhstan’s healthcare system. The partnership will focus on several strategic areas: Real-World Data (RWD) and Real-World Evidence (RWE): Development of advanced data analytics tools to support scientific research, clinical decision-making, and evidence-based healthcare policy. Expansion of the Young Health Program: Prevention of non-communicable diseases among youth and the promotion of responsible health behaviors. Sustainable Development and Economic Diversification: Joint initiatives in environmental protection, green technologies, and sustainable business practices. Early Diagnosis and Healthcare Resilience: Implementation of modern screening methods, specialist training, and development of diagnostic infrastructure. Nurbek highlighted that the memorandum creates new opportunities to integrate research, education, and real-world clinical practice. “It is important not only to develop fundamental science, but also to ensure the transfer of advanced technologies and data into everyday medical practice. This partnership strengthens Kazakhstan’s scientific and biomedical potential,” he said. AstraZeneca has steadily expanded its operations in Kazakhstan in recent years. In April 2024, the Ministry of Healthcare, the Almaty city administration, national investment agency Kazakh Invest, and AstraZeneca signed an agreement on the contract manufacturing of biotechnological products. The initiative supports Kazakhstan’s strategic goal of increasing the share of domestically produced medicines to 50%. In July 2024, AstraZeneca and the state pharmaceutical distributor SK-Pharmacy signed a long-term agreement on local production and technology transfer. According to Maria Shipuleva, CEO of AstraZeneca Kazakhstan, the company’s innovative medicines will be produced at the Nobel Almaty Pharmaceutical Factory. The production portfolio includes treatments for diabetes, chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, multiple forms of leukemia, and cancer therapies for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

Healthcare

Kazakhstan to Expand Use of AI for Early Detection of Strokes and Cancer

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health is moving to expand the use of AI to improve early diagnosis of strokes, cancer, and other high-impact diseases. Officials say the rollout aims to reduce mortality, increase diagnostic accuracy, and ease the workload of healthcare professionals. According to the ministry, a list of priority AI initiatives has been compiled to help detect socially significant diseases at early stages and support clinical decision-making. The targeted areas include stroke, lung cancer, breast cancer, and dental diagnostics through the analysis of medical imagery using machine learning algorithms. Several platforms are already operational and are being integrated more widely into the national healthcare system. Among the current AI platforms in use: Cerebra – deployed in nine category II and III stroke centers across five regions, capable of identifying stroke symptoms in under three minutes; WDsoft – used in 190 healthcare facilities in 10 regions to assist in the early detection of cancer and pneumonia; AIDENTIS – adopted by 65 dental clinics and three medical universities to analyze X-ray imagery; ALIMA – an AI-based medical assistant now active in over 700 clinics nationwide. The ALIMA platform processes patient complaints, medical records, and images to suggest potential diagnoses, recommend examinations, and propose treatment plans aligned with clinical protocols. These AI initiatives rely on computing resources provided by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, including eight graphics processors, and are supported through API-based integrations. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Health intends to introduce AI tools to evaluate pharmaceuticals and medical devices and to launch a project for early detection of chronic heart failure using the Smart ECG system. This technology enables remote interpretation of electrocardiograms in clinics that lack specialized functional diagnostics staff. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstani surgeons recently conducted the region's first joint replacement surgeries in Tashkent using the MAKO robotic system, another example of the country’s growing investment in med-tech innovation.

Healthcare

Insider’s View – Primary Healthcare 2030: Why Uzbekistan Is Shifting from Hospitals to Prevention and Local Care

For decades, health systems across the world have followed a familiar path: investing in hospitals, expanding specialized care, and treating disease when it becomes severe. Yet evidence from both high- and middle-income countries increasingly shows that this model is costly, inefficient, and poorly suited to today’s disease burden. Uzbekistan’s health reform agenda through 2030 reflects this global rethinking by placing primary healthcare and prevention at the center of the system. The logic is straightforward. The more health problems are resolved at the primary care level, before complications arise, the less pressure there is on hospitals, and the lower the overall cost of care. This principle underpins the World Health Organization’s approach to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and is now explicitly shaping Uzbekistan’s national strategy. According to the report, “A reformed service delivery system in Uzbekistan should be able to manage about 80% of the population’s outpatient and 85% of inpatient health needs at the primary health care/district level.” The cost of a hospital-centered model Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the main driver behind this shift. In Uzbekistan, as in many countries in the WHO European Region, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions account for the majority of premature mortality. WHO assessments note that the burden of these conditions is rising and that health systems built around inpatient treatment tend to intervene too late, when care is most expensive, and outcomes are poorest. Economic estimates cited in national policy discussions place annual losses associated with NCDs at around $1 billion. These losses are not limited to public spending; they include foregone productivity, long-term disability, and avoidable premature deaths. Without early detection of hypertension, elevated blood glucose, and cholesterol at the primary care level, health systems end up financing complications rather than preventing disease. Diabetes illustrates this dynamic clearly. International projections show a steady rise in adult diabetes prevalence in Uzbekistan through 2045. The most cost-effective interventions, including routine screening, lifestyle counseling, and continuous follow-up, are delivered through primary healthcare. Dialysis, stroke rehabilitation, and complex inpatient care are not. Uzbekistan 2030: from strategy to system design Uzbekistan’s National Health System Strategy 2030 translates this logic into concrete system objectives. Developed with support from the World Bank and international partners, the strategy emphasizes integrated service delivery, strengthened family medicine, and expanded preventive services throughout the country. A central performance objective is resolving the majority of patient needs at the primary healthcare level. This is not about convenience alone; it is about reallocating resources toward early intervention and chronic disease management, while allowing hospitals to focus on cases that genuinely require inpatient treatment. Prevention is being operationalized through specific policy instruments. The strategy includes expanded access to preventive services and micronutrient support, particularly for children and vulnerable groups, with an expected reduction in the prevalence of selected infectious and noncommunicable conditions. This marks a shift from abstract commitments to prevention toward interventions with measurable public health impact. Progress toward UHC provides additional context. According to WHO and World Bank reporting, Uzbekistan’s UHC service...

Healthcare

The Dental Mafia in Kazakhstan: How Pension Funds Were Siphoned Off

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) is continuing its investigation into one of the country’s most high-profile financial crimes in recent years: the large-scale embezzlement of pension savings through fictitious dental services. Authorities allege that millions of dollars were siphoned from the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) via a sprawling criminal scheme involving dozens of dental clinics. According to the FMA, the investigation is ongoing and centers on clinic managers and their accomplices. The alleged scheme involved the withdrawal of pension savings from the UAPF through formal contracts for dental procedures, backed by forged medical documents. “For such ‘assistance,’ the organizers of the scheme received illegal remuneration amounting to 10% to 20% of the withdrawn funds,” the agency said. In total, 42 dental clinics are implicated. Investigators estimate that more than $390 million was illicitly funneled through these entities. The funds were reportedly used to acquire luxury real estate and other high-value assets, as well as to open new dental clinics registered under front persons to obscure the identities of the real beneficiaries. Some of the fabricated diagnoses were blatantly implausible. In one instance, a 21-year-old was diagnosed with “complete edentulism” (total tooth loss) and simultaneously prescribed both teeth cleaning and braces. In response to the violations uncovered, Kazakhstan suspended the use of pension savings to pay for dental services as of September 15, 2025. The measure, though temporary, signals a tightening of regulatory oversight amid public outcry. The program allowing partial use of pension savings for medical services was first introduced in 2021. It enabled citizens to access funds exceeding the so-called “sufficiency threshold” to pay for treatments, including expensive dental procedures such as prosthetics and implants.