Uzbekistan Sets Priorities for Medical Tourism Development
Uzbekistan outlined priorities for expanding medical tourism, focusing on international partnerships, digital services, and improving care for foreign patients.
Uzbekistan Outlines Goals for Advancing Medical Tourism
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Abdulaziz Akkulov, the Chairman of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, convened an open meeting with business leaders to explore the growth of medical tourism, the enhancement of tourism services, and strategies to attract more international visitors.
The discussion focused on initiatives designed to bolster Uzbekistan's status as a premier medical tourism hub in Central Asia.
Medical tourism was highlighted as one of the most rapidly expanding sectors within the tourism industry.
Participants noted that Uzbekistan's competitive advantages include its strategic location, a modern array of multidisciplinary clinics, affordable healthcare costs, and ongoing enhancements in medical services.
These elements have led to an uptick in the number of foreign patients coming from neighboring countries as well as more distant regions.
Special emphasis was placed on the consistent rise in medical tourists from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. Attendees agreed that further sector development would necessitate not only upgrades to medical infrastructure but also a holistic approach to services tailored for international patients.
Key priorities identified during the meeting included fostering partnerships with foreign medical institutions, organizing familiarization trips for international tour operators and media, promoting integrated "treatment plus travel" packages, and facilitating international accreditation for local clinics.
The group also discussed the need for multilingual consultation services, the introduction of telemedicine, enhancements to online appointment systems, the execution of international public relations campaigns, the training of qualified professionals for the medical tourism field, streamlining visa processes, and creating additional amenities for accompanying family members.
At the end of the meeting, participants pinpointed essential areas for ongoing efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Uzbekistan's medical tourism sector, broaden the availability of high-quality medical services, and improve the country's global standing as a destination for treatment, rehabilitation, and health recovery.
The advancement of medical tourism is regarded as a crucial element in diversifying the tourism sector, attracting foreign investment, and increasing the export of medical services, aligning with the nation's strategy to enhance its tourism appeal and develop advanced healthcare solutions.