AVAILABILITY AND RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES IN UZBEKISTAN: A NEW CHALLENGE FOR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Abstract
This article analyzes current issues related to access to medicines in Uzbekistan, their economic accessibility, and their rational use. The main idea of the article is that modern medicine is determined not only by the doctor and the hospital, but also by the patient receiving the necessary medicine on time, according to the correct prescription, and at an acceptable price. Despite the fact that the coverage of healthcare services in Uzbekistan has been expanding in recent years, all necessary medicines are still not fully covered, population costs remain high, and regional differences in drug supply and rational use remain. At the same time, the introduction of new legal and organizational mechanisms for the reimbursement system for medicines in 2024 testifies to the beginning of a new stage in this field.