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INFORMATION DIGEST №72

Economy

.. 1

Uzbekenergo starts selection of contractors for modernization of two hydro power stations. 1

Society.. 1

A Sound Goal. 1

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.. 3

US Assistant Secretary of State arrives in Uzbekistan. 3


economy

Uzbekenergo starts selection of contractors for modernization of two hydro power stations

Uzbekenergo state joint stock company announced a prequalification to selection of participants of the project on modernization of two hydro power stations in Tashkent region – Farkhad hydro power station and hydro power station No. 14 of Nizhne-Bozsu Cascade.

The interested eligible applicants are invited to apply for each lot separately and/or both lots combined - Implementation of Turnkey contract№ UZB-0067-01 for Modernization of UE “Farkhad HPS” and Implementation of Turnkey contract № UZB-0067-02 for Modernization of UE “Nizhne-Bozsu Сascade of HPS”.

Implementation of the contracts shall be implemented through International Competitive Bidding (ICB). Invitations to International Competitive Biddings are expected to be sent to prequalified applicants in May 2013.

The project envisages replacement of generators and turbines, as well as electric equipment, communication lines, etc. The project will allow to increase production capacities by 30 megawatt. The project will be implemented within three years.

The project cost is US$165.7 million (USD/UZS-2049.18). Along with the IDB resources, Uzbekenergo and the Uzbek side will allocate resources to project realization.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the IDB issued allocation of loan for US$100 million to implement the project. The loan was issued for 16 years with four-year grace period. (Source: UzDaily.com)

 

society

A Sound Goal

Uzbekistan stakes on the widespread use of domestic and foreign expertise to strengthen health of the nation

Over the past 20 years, life expectancy in Uzbekistan increased to 73 years, and it's not a limit. The government’s investment in healthcare has increased by 3.6 times over the years of independence, largely due to the scaled work on the upgrade of health facilities, and the development of advanced methods of prevention, diagnostics and research.

Comprehensive approach

On April 7 the world marked the World Health Day, the day of establishment of the World Health Organization. The events on this occasion are held for people to realize the importance of health, and for related organizations to focus on addressing pressing problems. Each year this day is dedicated to a specific topic, thus contributing to achieving the goals set. This year’s subject is hypertension, or high blood pressure. The disease increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure; it can lead to blindness, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. Most importantly, high blood pressure can be treated successfully.

In Uzbekistan, the health care system is developed in an integrated way. The current priorities of this work were outlined in 2007 by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On measures to further deepen reformation of the health care system’. They include strengthening the prevention of various diseases, improving primary health care, protecting maternal and child health, and provision of specialized medical care. Building and reconstruction and health care facilities, equipping them with modern equipment, adoption of best and most effective methods of prevention, diagnostics and treatment contribute not only to improving the quality of medical care for patients with hypertension, but generally to strengthening health and gene pool of the nation.

The forums that promote the exchange of experiences between experts are an integral part of the innovation process in the health sector. Spring is traditionally full of such events. Every week is marked with conferences and workshops on topical aspects of health that bring together the leading national and international scholars and practitioners. The events are consistently complemented by the current exhibition Health Week - TIHE 2013. It introduces visitors to the new products in the health sector. The three-section exhibition demonstrates products of more than 160 companies from 21 countries. Healthcare - TIHE 2013 represents novelties by manufacturers of medical equipment, AptekaExpo Central Asia 2013 - manufacturers of drugs and medical devices, Stomatology Uzbekistan 2013 - achievements of dentistry.

Promptly and efficiently

Scheduled changes in health care institutions and regular medical forums contribute to improvement of quality of medical service o the population. Uzbekistan Today’s reporter studied these processes based on the hypertension control and its consequences. To date, 20-30% of the adult population suffers from this disease. There are two common forms of hypertension. The essential form occurs as if by itself, due to various reasons: genetic predisposition, wrong nutrition, lifestyle and pernicious habits. Symptomatic hypertension is a symptom of many diseases, such as atherosclerosis, kidney disease, nervous system, and so on.

 Qualified medical aid for hypertensive patients is now more available. This is largely the result of the developed network of rural health units. Establishment of these institutions in remote and inaccessible settlements raised the detection rate of the disease at an early stage and contributed to provision of effective assistance to those in need. The range of measures taken by the Ministry of Health and the joint-stock company Dori-Darmon on the opening of drug stores and their branches in rural health units was very to the point. This step tackled many issues of provision of the population with quality medicines, which are of primary importance in the treatment of hypertension and prevention of its complications.

Quality of emergency medical care has improved as well. The Republican Research Center for Emergency Medical Care was established in the capital with branches in all regions and departments in districts to ensure quality medical care of the same standard meeting the guidelines of the World Health Organization. Upgrade and replenishment of the ambulance fleet ensures arrival of the doctor team in the shortest time.

Quality of specialized medical aid is getting improved with the development of a network of national specialized medical centers, regional multidisciplinary medical centers and clinics. National centers adopt and develop new advanced technologies of medical aid; this is the purpose of the whole range of units. For instance, the Cardiology Center runs a laboratory on genetic basics of hypertension. It deals with the development and introduction of highly accurate methods of early detection of hypertension, which can detect the disease before its clinical manifestations. Centers of emergency medicine, surgery and cardiology provide the facilities for interventional procedures on blood vessels to protect a patient from such serious complications of hypertension and atherosclerosis as stroke and heart attack.

Applying internal capacity

Further development of the national health care is a high-capacity consumer of innovation as proved by Health Week - TIHE 2013, which brings together specialists from leading hospitals of the country. The exhibition demonstrates the fact that domestic scientists and enterprises increasingly get actively involved this process.

The country's leadership focuses on the issues of import substitution and development of domestic industry. Tax incentives and preferences, and implementation of targeted programs do their part. Intensive development of the pharmaceutical market might be the most striking example. Twenty years ago, the industry was represented by only three companies. Today their number is approaching to 150, and the share of domestic manufacturers in the pharmaceutical market of the country – to 50%.

 Manufacture of medical furniture, medical devices and equipment is developing concurrently. Today, the domestic manufacturer offers all types of medical furniture, dressings, injection systems and syringes, different equipment for physiotherapy and much more. Most importantly, the range of products is constantly expanding.

According to experts, the role of the leading national medical institutions and research institutes is increasing in the process of import substitution. Manufacturers have catalyzed launching of mass production of medicines, medical supplies and equipment, developed by national scientists. Meanwhile, the state provides comprehensive support to scientists. Currently, the research grants of the Committee for Coordination of Science and Technology under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan uphold 17 fundamental, 142 applied and 19 innovative research projects on medicine.

 Pharmacists take the lead in industrial development of medical products in Uzbekistan. In recent years alone the domestic enterprises launched the production of about 30 drugs they had developed, including tselagripp, suktsinasol, lagoden, fenasol, galantamine, albendazole and others. Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute, Uzbek Research Chemical and Pharmaceutical Institute, Scientific Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, National Cancer Research Center, Institute of Chemistry and Physics of Polymers, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Plant Chemistry are active in the development of new drugs.           

Large-scale projects

Today Uzbekistan ranks among active purchasers of modern high-tech equipment. The government runs several investment projects on the purchase of medical equipment in cooperation with international financial institutions.

For instance, the delivery of equipment under joint projects with KfW-Bank is expected to start this year. It is intended for the Republican Specialized Research Medical Center of Pediatrics, the clinic of Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute, and regional multidisciplinary medical centers.

A Health-3 project in collaboration with the World Bank focuses on equipping district medical associations and family clinics with modern medical equipment.

A project in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank schedules additional equipping of the National Cancer Research Center and the Regional Oncology Center next year. The Republican Specialized Research Medical Center of Phthisiology and Pulmonology, and TB clinics will be supplied with some equipment under  the project, in partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Besides, the Ministry of Health is working on the projects on equipping national specialized centers of eye microsurgery, urology, endocrinology, therapy and medical rehabilitation, dermatology and venereology with the cutting edge equipment. The list of imported equipment includes the devices to be delivered to Uzbekistan for the first time.

It is noteworthy that clinics purchase medical equipment not only through government projects. Their capacity to acquire equipment by means of the funds raised from paid medical services has expanded over the recent years. This promoted the constant process of equipping, replacement and installation of additional equipment in many hospitals. (Source: Uzbekistan Today newspaper)

 

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

US Assistant Secretary of State arrives in Uzbekistan

US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Michael Hammer has been received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan on 11 April 2013.

Michael Hammer arrived in Tashkent to participate at an international seminar “Openness of activity of state bodies 0 important conditions for public control”, the Uzbek ministry said.

During the meeting, the sides considered issues of strengthening bilateral relations in cultural-humanitarian spheres.

They also exchanged opinion on other issues of mutual interest.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America George Krol participated at the meeting. (Source: UzDaily.com)

 
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