MPs Grill Health Minister on Wasteful Medicine Spending
During a recent session in the Legislative Chamber, the Minister of Health, Asilbek Khudoyorov, addressed concerns regarding corrupt practices in the procurement of medicines in some clinics. The issue was raised during a “Government Hour” session in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, where financial transparency and efficiency in the healthcare sector were being discussed.
Representative Zuhriddin Mavlonov of the “Adolat” Social Democratic Party faction criticized the inefficient use of state budget funds in the healthcare sector, highlighting suspicious practices in medicine procurement. He revealed findings from a study conducted on the availability of essential medicines in healthcare institutions across various regions, showing that some clinics were purchasing medicines with very short shelf lives or were not procuring essential medications at all.
Mavlonov pointed out a specific example at Family Polyclinic No. 34 in Tashkent where only 15 out of 27 types of medications included in the guaranteed package were purchased, and some were nearing expiry. This raised concerns about the inefficient use of budget funds in healthcare.
In response, Health Minister Khudoyorov acknowledged the systemic issues and stated that measures are being taken to address them. He explained that the procurement process is being monitored, with medicine shelf life categorized into three levels to ensure proper management.
Khudoyorov also highlighted the issue of corruption, where companies offload unsold medicines in exchange for bribes, leading to medicines not reaching patients and being written off and discarded. He emphasized that efforts are being made to combat this practice.
Furthermore, the Minister discussed the implementation of a guaranteed health insurance package in regions where the insurance system is being piloted. He mentioned that the package will include medications for the nine most common types of illnesses, and steps are being taken to ensure transparency and accountability in the healthcare system.
Overall, the session shed light on the importance of financial transparency and efficiency in the healthcare sector and the ongoing efforts to address corruption and improve the procurement process of medicines in clinics.
