The Head of State briefed on new measures on healthcare reform

Today, special attention is paid to the introduction of a new model of primary healthcare delivery, based on international experience and aimed at bringing medical services closer to the population. On this basis, multidisciplinary central clinics, family doctor practices, family polyclinics and mahalla medical points are being developed according to a unified approach.

As a result, the share of family doctors in the healthcare system is expected to reach 70 percent. Through digitalization and the reduction of paper-based documentation, the workload of medical staff is expected to decrease by nearly one-third, and citizen satisfaction with primary care services should rise to over 85 percent. At the same time, a new system of financial incentives for healthcare workers is being introduced, directly tied to their professional performance.

The President emphasized the importance of fundamentally improving specialized care. The country operates dozens of scientific and practical medical centers that are being equipped with modern technology and receiving significant budget funding.

Nevertheless, public complaints remain regarding the quality of services and long waiting times. It was noted that specialized centers are slow in adopting international treatment standards, their methodological support for primary healthcare remains weak.

In this regard, it’s proposed to revise the activities of all specialized republican clinics and attract to their management professional managers. A successful example is a Republican center for oncology and radiology, where Turkish specialists are already working. 

In parallel, the revision and renewal of clinical protocols continues: to date 400 have been revised, by the end of the year this indicator will double. A tariff methodology on over three thousand medical services is being developed under Asian Development Bank support.

The Head of State instructed to explore the possibility of engaging foreign professional managers in five more centers or transferring them to the management of reputable international clinics. It was emphasized that the expected outcomes should include the development of diagnostic and treatment standards based on international experience, creation of national clinical protocols, introduction of new technologies, drafting of a long-term development strategy for the centers, recruitment of highly qualified specialists, as well as the establishment of a transparent and fair system for delivering quality healthcare to the population.

The meeting also discussed measures to protect children’s health.

It was noted that worldwide there is an urgent issue of breastfeeding infants with maternal milk, and the use of breast milk substitutes is increasing.

To achieve by 2030 the World Health Organization’s recommended target of 70 percent exclusive breastfeeding for children up to six months, a national program to support breastfeeding will be adopted in our country.

Within the framework of the program, the WHO and UNICEF initiatives “Baby-Friendly Hospital” and “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” will be implemented. Training will be organized for healthcare workers on breastfeeding practices, along with awareness-raising activities for pregnant and nursing mothers.

It was proposed to introduce legislative amendments restricting the advertising of breast milk substitutes, as well as to improve the requirements and standards related to the production, import and export, transportation, storage, sale and delivery of baby food products.

Approving the proposals presented, the President gave a number of instructions aimed at bringing healthcare closer to the people, improving its quality and accessibility, reducing mortality from non-communicable diseases and strengthening the health of the younger generation.