Insurance premiums in Uzbekistan increased by 27.3% over nine months

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported that the country's healthcare system funding has increased sevenfold in recent years, reaching 49 trillion soums by 2026. These statements were made in a congratulatory message addressed to medical and pharmaceutical workers on the occasion of their professional holiday.

In his address, published on November 7, the president expressed gratitude to healthcare workers and industry veterans for their contribution to public health protection. Mirziyoyev noted that reforms under the slogan 'New Uzbekistan — New and Modern Medicine' are strengthening the technical and material base of medical institutions, improving staff qualifications, and introducing modern diagnostic and treatment methods.

A new primary healthcare model is gradually being implemented in all regions. The president also emphasized the creation of a national system for combating strokes and heart attacks, early detection of oncological and hematological diseases, as well as the expansion of palliative care.

Significant attention is being paid to the digitalization of medical services. Public polyclinics, hospitals, private medical centers, and pharmacies are being integrated into a unified digital network. Thanks to the DMED information system, electronic medical records have been created for more than 38 million people, and Electronic Polyclinic, Electronic Hospital, and Electronic Prescription systems have been launched.

Authorities plan to expand the capabilities of these platforms and use artificial intelligence to support doctors and nurses. Other areas of reform include implementing the 'money follows the patient' principle within the state medical insurance system, developing new financing mechanisms, and expanding the reimbursement program that provides certain medications to the population free of charge.

By the end of 2026, it is planned to establish medical insurance mechanisms in all regions to guarantee all citizens access to quality healthcare. Mirziyoyev stressed that the main goal of the reforms is to ensure timely access to quality treatment for every resident, regardless of their social status or place of residence.

Substantial changes are also occurring in medical education. Since 2017, admission quotas to medical universities have increased by 4.5 times, and 40 educational programs have received international accreditation. Whereas previously Uzbek medical universities accepted students from four countries, they now attract students from 41 countries, with the number of international students exceeding 15 thousand.

Starting in 2027, authorities intend to introduce a state system for registering medical and pharmaceutical workers in accordance with international standards. Furthermore, from the 2027/2028 academic year, medical specialists will study exclusively through residency programs.

The president also noted the growth of the private healthcare sector: over the past decade, the number of private clinics in the country has grown from 3,500 to over 9,000, and the number of approved categories of specialized medical services has increased from 50 to 213. The pharmaceutical industry is also developing: local producers manufacture over 6,800 types of medicines exported to more than 50 countries. Mirziyoyev highlighted the growth in production, exports, and investment in this industry.

As one of the key indicators of progress in healthcare, the president cited the increase in life expectancy in Uzbekistan from 73.8 to 75.4 years. Future priorities include raising the expected life expectancy to 78 years, as well as improving disease prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. In conclusion, Mirziyoyev mentioned that a recent meeting with representatives of the medical sector was dedicated to further reforms and providing material and moral support to healthcare workers, wishing them health, well-being, and success in their professional activities.

According to the National Agency for Prospective Projects, as of November 1, 2026, shareholders in Uzbekistan received over 7.8 trillion soums in dividends through the Central Securities Depository. This amount is more than six times higher than the figures for the same period last year.

The number of shareholders increased by 10.8% compared to the previous year, reaching over 1.122 million people. The vast majority of these are private individuals—1.056 million registered, which is more than 108,000 people more than at the beginning of the current year. The number of bondholders exceeded 4,000, an increase of 1.8 times.

The volume of corporate bond issuance exceeded 8.2 trillion soums by November 1, which is 2.6 times higher. Mortgage bonds totaling 200.9 billion soums appeared on the market for the first time. Additionally, five foreign currency bond issues totaling 100 million US dollars were registered.

Securities trading on the Tashkent Republican Stock Exchange for the first 10 months of 2026 amounted to 16.6 trillion soums. The number of transactions increased by 2.8 times, approaching 1.1 million. Corporate bond trading reached 6.1 trillion soums, more than eight times the previous level.

In investor protection, courts issued rulings during the reporting period obliging the return of 19.1 billion soums in dividends to investors. This amount doubled compared to last year. Of the 14 lawsuits filed, 13 were fully satisfied. Judicial decrees were issued in 67 out of 71 administrative cases, and over 200 mandatory instructions were sent to market participants.

In the licensing sector, five licenses were issued for investment intermediaries and two licenses for trust managers during the reporting period. Three notifications of activity for investment consultants were also processed. Ten licenses were revoked at the initiative of their owners, while one license was suspended for six months.

The agency received 358 complaints and appeals from investors in the first 10 months, compared to 585 such appeals for the same period last year. Of these, 249 came from private individuals and 109 from legal entities. A total of 348 appeals were reviewed, and 10 are still under consideration.

According to preliminary data from the National Statistical Committee, the volume of market services provided in Uzbekistan reached 1003.2 trillion soms at current prices for the period from January to September 2026. This figure demonstrated a real growth of 16.7% compared to the same period in 2025.

In the first nine months of 2025, market services amounted to 815 trillion soms, reflecting an increase of 14% relative to the same period in 2024. Statistical data for January-September 2025 and 2026 were adjusted after conducting population and agricultural censuses.

Service Distribution by Region

Tashkent accounted for 40.8% of the total volume of market services in the country, equivalent to 409.4 trillion soms. In the capital, the volume of services increased by 18.3% in real terms. Among the regions, Samarkand showed the largest volume of services—73.8 trillion soms, making up 7.4% of the national total. It is followed by Tashkent region with 68.3 trillion soms (6.8%), Fergana region with 66 billion soms (6.6%), and Andijan region with 51 trillion soms (5.1%).

The lowest volume of services was recorded in Syrdarya region—13.9 trillion soms, or 1.4% of the total volume. Outside the capital, the fastest growth in the service sector was observed in Samarkand region (17.3%), followed by Khorezm region (17.2%) and Andijan region (17.1%). Growth reached 16.9% in Navoi region, 16.8% in Syrdarya region, and 16.7% in Surkhandarya region. Kashkadarya and Tashkent regions showed growth at the level of 16.6%, and Fergana region—at 16.5%.

The volume of services grew by 15% in Namangan region and by 14.9% in Karakalpakstan Republic.

Services per Capita Level

The average volume of market services per capita across the country was 25.5 million soms, higher than the figure of 21.1 million soms the previous year; in real terms, this indicator increased by 14.7%. Tashkent demonstrated the highest per capita figure—126 million soms, representing an increase of 23.9 million soms compared to the previous year. Next are Navoi region with 19.7 million soms, Bukhara region with 18.8 million soms, and Tashkent region with 18.1 million soms. The lowest per capita figure was recorded in Surkhandarya region—10.4 million soms.

The fastest growth in services per capita was noted in Tashkent (16.4%), as well as in Khorezm and Navoi regions (both 15.3%). Namangan region showed the smallest growth rate (12.9%).

Contribution of Small Business and Service Structure

Small businesses provided services worth 567.5 trillion soms, accounting for 56.6% of the total national volume. At the same time, the volume of services provided by small enterprises grew by 17.4% in real terms. Fergana region has the highest share of small businesses in the total volume of services—76%. It is followed by Kashkadarya region (74.7%), Namangan region (74.4%), Andijan region (74.3%), and Surkhandarya region (73.7%).

In Tashkent, the share of small businesses in the service market was 42.9%, but the capital registered the largest volume of services provided by small enterprises, at 175.8 trillion soms, indicating a growth of 21.3%. In Bukhara region, small business services increased by 20.3%, while in Syrdarya region, this segment showed the lowest volume—9.1 trillion soms.

The main driver of overall growth was trade, financial, and transport services. Trade services grew by 17.4%, reaching 235.3 trillion soms, contributing 4 percentage points to the overall growth. Financial services increased by 22%, reaching 163.8 trillion soms, adding 3.4 percentage points, and transport services grew by 16.4% to 162.8 trillion soms, contributing 2.8 percentage points.

Accommodation and catering services grew by 11.3%, reaching 179.7 trillion soms, while information and communication services increased by 21.4%, amounting to 77.6 trillion soms. Educational services grew by 19.6%, and real estate services—by 15.3%. The greatest growth among the listed categories was shown by architectural, engineering-measuring, and technical testing, which grew by 24.2%.

Healthcare services increased by 14.2%, computer and household appliance repair grew by 11.1%, and rental services—by 9.5%.

In the overall structure of market services, trade accounts for 23.5%, accommodation and catering services—17.9%, financial services—16.3%, transport—16.2%, information and communication services—7.7%, and education—3.5%.

Since the beginning of 2026, statistics have been calculating the volume of trade services taking into account changes in inventories of goods intended for resale. The methodology was revised in accordance with the recommendations of international experts. A similar methodology was applied retrospectively to data for January-September 2025 to ensure comparability.

Statistics also provides a breakdown of individual service sectors. Catering services accounted for 96.1% of all accommodation and catering services. In the financial sector, insurance services accounted for 6.9%, auxiliary financial activities—7.3%, and other financial services made up 85.8%. Road transport accounted for more than half of all transport services, amounting to 52.5% or 85.4 trillion soms.

In the field of information and communication services, computer programming accounted for 48.4%, telecommunications—27.5%, information services—15.8%, and publishing activities—6.1%. Higher education covered 40.2% of educational services, while real estate rental and management accounted for 92.1% of real estate services. In healthcare, hospitals accounted for 32.3% of the total volume, medical practice and dentistry—14.4%, and other medical services—53.3%.