Plans for free diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer in Uzbekistan
Plans to fund the diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer from Uzbekistan’s State budget
09.12.2024
Article published on the ozodlik.org website
Uzbekistan is to launch a programme next year that will radically transform women’s access to the diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer. These diseases are the main causes of deaths among women in the country, with their treatment costing huge amounts of money.
According to official figures, there were 4,164 new cases of breast cancer and 1,851 of invasive cervical cancer in Uzbekistan in 2022. For these cancer sufferers, concerns about the cost of medical services and medicines are often uppermost in their minds.
RK, a diagnostician and candidate of medical sciences who did not want to be named, said “People sell their cars and apartments just to be able to pay for treatment such as chemotherapy – it’s all very difficult”.
In order to address this situation, Uzbekistan plans to introduce a comprehensive, free cancer-screening programme for women next year, as well as offering free treatment if the diagnosis is confirmed.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed an Order in late November that will provide free cervical cancer screenings for women between 30 and 50 years of age. Those who test negative will be screened again after ten years. Patients will be referred for additional examinations if cancer is detected.
Under the Order, women will be referred for outpatient treatment to the Republic’s Specialist Scientific and Practical Medical Centre for Maternal and Child Health and its regional offices if early cancer signs are found.
An initial selection of women between 30 and 65 years of age for breast examinations will be made every two years. For those under 45, tests will be carried out by ultrasound and a mammogram for women over 45.
According to Aziza Umarova, one of the people behind this initiative and Head of the Delivery Unit at the Agency of Social Reforms under the Uzbek President, the programme took a year to develop. Writing on her social media page, she said that thanks to this work, “Uzbekistan has become the first country in the former Soviet Union where the human papillomavirus test is now part of a national screening programme”.
The London-based Uzbek political scientist Alisher Ilkhamov also welcomed the decision, albeit with the comment that this was long overdue.
“Overall, the Order should be seen as progress towards improving women’s socio-economic rights”, the expert said. He stated that establishing a pricing system for medical drugs is also very important as these should be available primarily to women from low-income families.
The doctor RK calls the programme “sunshine in a black sky” and that it could be a major step forward in providing women with the health care they need. The main thing is to ensure there is enough money in the budget for these ambitious plans, she added.
Although the issue of funding is mentioned in the Order there is very little detail to go with it. It states that “all expenses related to the diagnosis and treatment of patients diagnosed with cancer as a result of the screening shall be funded from the State’s budget”.
In addition. it states that if additional resources are required, the Health and Economy and Finance Ministries will have to make reasonable proposals to the Council of Ministers in order to clarify sources of funding. There are also plans to attract funds from international donor organisations.
