Medicine - The Times Of Central Asia

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Science

Ziroat Mirziyoyeva Named Among World’s Top 100 Women in Oncology

Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, the wife of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has been named one of the 100 most influential women in oncology by the international platform OncoDaily. Mirziyoyeva was recognized for her work as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Zamin International Public Foundation, where she has supported initiatives focused on early detection and treatment of childhood cancers. Experts cited by OncoDaily highlighted her role in promoting international collaboration in pediatric oncology and advancing global efforts to improve survival rates for children with life-threatening illnesses. According to OncoDaily, Mirziyoyeva has emerged as a leading advocate for expanding access to cancer care for children in low and middle-income countries, where survival rates remain disproportionately low. The platform noted her leadership at a high-level forum at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, titled “Global Movement to Improve Survival and Reduce Suffering of Children with Cancer and Other Life-Threatening Diseases.” The event, co-hosted with the World Health Organization and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, called for urgent global action to increase survival rates for pediatric cancers. OncoDaily stated that her efforts have helped place Uzbekistan on the global health policy agenda, aligning the country with international goals to raise childhood cancer survival rates to 60 percent by 2030.

Healthcare

Kazakhstan Emerges as Regional Leader in Medical Tourism

Kazakhstan has taken the lead in the post-Soviet space in terms of the rapid development of medical tourism, surpassing its closest regional competitors, according to Kristina Krivets, President of the Kazakhstan Medical Tourism Association. Rapid Growth in Patient Numbers The sector has experienced explosive growth in recent years. In 2022, when the association was first established, just 1,280 medical tourists were recorded. By 2023, that figure had jumped to 8,000 and by 2024, it reached 80,000. “This is a very sharp increase, which shows that Kazakhstan is becoming a notable player in the region,” Krivets said. According to the association, around 90% of foreign patients come from neighboring countries, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, plus nearby Tajikistan. The remaining 10% hail from countries such as the United States, Germany, Israel, Austria, and Switzerland. The most in-demand services include reproductive medicine, dentistry, and aesthetic procedures. Kazakhstan offers these treatments at lower costs while maintaining acceptable standards of quality. In parallel, there is growing interest in more complex procedures such as cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and radiation therapy for cancer. The average bill for a foreign patient is approximately 1.5 million KZT ($2,780) for medical services alone. However, the total spending per patient is roughly ten times higher than that of a typical tourist, once accommodation, transportation, and additional services are factored in, underscoring the sector’s growing economic significance and its multiplier effect on related industries. Meeting International Standards Currently, nine clinics in Kazakhstan hold Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, seven in Astana and two in Almaty. While the accreditation process is costly and time-consuming, it is seen as essential for attracting international patients. “Today, Kazakhstan ranks first in medical tourism in Central Asia. Our main competitor is Uzbekistan, but we have every reason to become a medical tourism hub not just for our neighbors, but for a broader international audience,” Krivets stated. To help position Kazakhstan globally, the first international medical tourism exhibition, GlobalMedKZ, will be held in Astana on November 27-28. The event will focus on promoting the sector through information tours, social media campaigns, participation in international exhibitions, and consultations with foreign doctors. “GlobalMedKZ will become a platform for Kazakhstan to be known to the whole world,” Krivets emphasized. Legal Barriers Remain Despite its rapid development, the sector still faces significant legal challenges. Krivets pointed out that medical tourism is not yet defined in Kazakh legislation. “We are working with the Ministry of Health to include a definition in the Law ‘On Health,’ but ideally, a separate law on medical tourism is needed,” she said. Visa access is not a major hurdle, as most citizens from countries in Eurasia can enter Kazakhstan without a visa. However, state medical institutions are currently prohibited from paying commissions to foreign agents, limiting efforts to attract more international patients. Still, Krivets remains optimistic. “Medical tourism is a paid service that, with a well-structured system, can generate substantial revenue for the state. We see successful models in Turkey and South Korea, where it has become one of...

Healthcare

Kyrgyzstan and China to Expand Healthcare Cooperation

China is exploring investment opportunities in Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare sector, including the construction of a pharmaceutical plant using locally grown medicinal herbs and the establishment of a medical equipment assembly facility, according to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health. These prospects were discussed during a meeting in Bishkek between Kyrgyz Health Minister Erkin Checheybaev and a Belt and Road healthcare investment coordinator from Xinjiang Medical University in Urumqi. The talks focused on deepening healthcare cooperation within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Key proposals included: Supplying high-tech medical equipment to Kyrgyz hospitals and clinics Establishing medical simulation centers and equipping Kyrgyz medical universities through grant support Offering fully funded bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in China for Kyrgyz students Creating a Kyrgyz-Chinese Center for Traditional Medicine Similar centers currently operate in Pakistan and Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan may soon join this regional network under the “Silk Road for Traditional Medicine” initiative. China also signaled its willingness to provide educational materials and dispatch specialists to train Kyrgyz medical professionals in traditional Chinese medicine practices.

Pharmaceutical Business

Tajikistan’s Pharmaceutical Sector Remains Heavily Dependent on Imports

Despite possessing vast reserves of medicinal plants, Tajikistan's pharmaceutical industry remains heavily reliant on imports. Experts are increasingly questioning why the sector has been reduced to a basic "buy-and-sell" model and what is hindering the use of the country’s natural resources. Abundant Resources, Limited Output Tajikistan is home to more than 3,500 species of medicinal plants, including licorice, mint, valerian, chamomile, motherwort, and even rare saffron. However, this natural wealth has not translated into pharmaceutical independence. In the past two years alone, Tajikistan has imported roughly $84 million worth of medicines. Currently, 67 pharmaceutical companies are registered in the country, producing around 600 types of drugs. Still, imported pharmaceuticals dominate the market. According to industry observers, the sector has evolved into a retail-focused trade, rather than a hub for research-based production. During the Soviet era, pharmaceuticals in Tajikistan were closely integrated with scientific institutions. Research institutes flourished, pharmacies compounded custom medications, and both training and quality control were rigorous. Following the collapse of the USSR, this infrastructure disintegrated. The responsible state committee was dissolved, and a previously regulated system was replaced by an unstructured market. Today, training programs are often accelerated, pharmacists’ qualifications are inconsistent, and the emphasis has shifted from treatment to sales. A Pharmacy That Heals Amid this decline, one notable exception is found in the city of Isfara, where a phytotherapy department has been established at the local hospital. Spearheaded by pharmacist Abubakr Faiziev, the department operates out of a restored facility where locally gathered herbs are used to produce traditional infusions and decoctions. Faiziev personally collects about half of the ingredients. “It is important to me that the pharmacy heals, not just sells,” he said. According to Faiziev, approximately 80% of patients return for follow-up treatment, often bypassing conventional doctors due to the perceived effectiveness of herbal therapies, a sentiment echoed even among members of the local elite. A Science in Decline Faiziev laments the erosion of scientific ambition in the country. "People now ask for business plans and guaranteed profits instead of pursuing knowledge. But science doesn’t work that way," he said. Research, he noted, has become sporadic and often relies on outdated data, with little interest from private companies in investing in innovation. Young professionals, too, are increasingly opting for commercial routes. “They prefer to open pharmacies for fast income rather than engage in research,” he explained. “There are many pharmacists now. But we must transform quantity into quality. Without passion for the profession, one cannot become a skilled expert.” The State’s Role and Untapped Potential President Emomali Rahmon has repeatedly stressed the need to develop the domestic pharmaceutical industry and better utilize Tajikistan’s natural resources. Ongoing reforms include updates to medical university curricula, the opening of laboratories, and the training of technologists and quality control specialists. Yet, experts argue that without a comprehensive, systematic strategy and active engagement from the private sector, these measures are insufficient. Faiziev advocates for the creation of a pharmaceutical technology park and the development of both the domestic...

Healthcare

Top Kyrgyz Heart Surgeon Warns of Critical Infrastructure Shortfalls Costing Lives

Prominent heart surgeon Kaldarbek Abdramanov has issued a stark warning about the dire state of cardiac care in Kyrgyzstan, stating that thousands of lives are being lost due to the lack of adequate medical infrastructure. His urgent appeal, posted on Facebook, has sparked widespread public concern. Abdramanov emphasized that while Kyrgyz cardiac surgeons have performed more than 70,000 heart surgeries since the country’s first operation in 1959, systemic failures are now threatening the field’s progress. “Although we do not yet perform heart transplants, which is every cardiac surgeon’s dream, this is due to a lack of proper infrastructure and equipment, not knowledge,” he wrote. The surgeon recalled a fire last winter at the Research Institute of Heart Surgery and Organ Transplantation, which left the facility severely damaged. Since then, staff have been working in makeshift, substandard conditions not suited for complex procedures. He criticized the international aid programs targeted at the center as largely symbolic, offering little real assistance. “We are the students and followers of the great Isa Akhunbaev. We’ve conducted 70,000 heart surgeries and perform nearly all procedures that clinics in Europe and the U.S. do. We have the expertise and the specialists, but not the environment to support our work,” Abdramanov stated. He called for the urgent construction of a new, modern cardiology complex with at least 250 beds. “Yes, such facilities are expensive. But no cost is higher than the lives of hundreds or thousands of citizens who die each year due to the absence of this kind of center,” he warned. Abdramanov also voiced frustration with foreign medical missions, accusing them of offering superficial support. “They come and perform basic surgeries that our young specialists could handle. They don’t teach us new technologies and they don’t leave behind any equipment. This is not real help,” he said. His remarks come amid political fallout in the health sector. President Sadyr Japarov recently publicly criticized Health Minister Erkin Chechebaev for failing to manage the country's hospitals effectively. The president was informed that 24 children with critical heart conditions are awaiting surgery, with three deaths reported in recent days.

Health

Uzbekistan and Hungary Use Nobel-Winning Discovery to Develop Health Supplements

Scientists from Uzbekistan and Hungary are collaborating to develop new health supplements derived from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), a plant known for its medicinal properties. The research is being conducted by the Pharmaceutical Institute of Tashkent and Hungary’s Meditop Pharmaceutical Ltd. The project is based on the groundbreaking work of Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering artemisinin, a compound extracted from sweet wormwood that effectively treats malaria. The joint initiative aims to produce antiseptic and anti-inflammatory supplements in various forms, including capsules, ointments, hydrogels, mouthwashes, and ear drops. These products are classified as food supplements rather than medicines. Currently, researchers are testing the active compounds on animals to evaluate their effectiveness. While still in the early stages of development, with prototypes being tested, mass production is planned to take place in Uzbekistan using Hungarian pharmaceutical expertise. It remains uncertain whether all prototypes will reach large-scale production, but both sides express optimism about the project’s potential. This collaboration is part of a broader partnership between the two countries. In 2023, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Uzbek Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov announced plans to establish a special industrial zone in Uzbekistan for Hungarian companies. Sweet wormwood has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in Chinese medicine, where it has been employed to treat fever and infections. In recent years, artemisinin has been investigated not only for malaria treatment but also for its potential applications in cancer therapy and respiratory health, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.