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Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has ordered the creation of a mandatory state registration system for medical and pharmaceutical workers, under which the right to practise in either field will from 1 January 2030 be granted only to individuals registered in a specific specialty — and only for five-year renewable terms.
The resolution, signed on 19 October 2026, establishes that anyone wishing to work in medicine or pharmacy after that date must hold a valid state registration certificate tied to their declared specialty. The government says the measure is designed to raise transparency, improve the quality of medical care and bring Uzbekistan’s professional licensing framework into line with international standards already common in developed countries, where periodic revalidation of the right to practise is routine.
Transition period and voluntary early registration
To avoid abrupt disruption for practitioners and patients alike, the resolution provides a transition window running from 1 July 2027 to 1 January 2030. During that period, workers may register voluntarily — either by sitting a specialist examination or automatically in the course of receiving or renewing a professional qualification category. The government describes this flexibility as a deliberate design choice to minimise bureaucratic burden during the changeover.
Experienced specialists with at least 20 years of service and an academic degree will be exempt from the examination requirement and may be registered directly. However, the exemption does not apply to anyone who has not practised continuously in their specialty for at least three years immediately before applying — a condition the resolution frames as a safeguard for sustained professional competence.
Digital processing and a unified registry
All applications will be handled electronically, submitted through Public Service Centres, the Unified Interactive State Services Portal, or a dedicated Medical Qualification Platform. The system is designed to operate around the clock, including on weekends and public holidays. The authorised body — the Centre for Assessment of the Qualifications of Medical and Pharmaceutical Workers — will process applications within short deadlines, issue certificates in fully electronic form and make them verifiable through a single electronic registry of medical and pharmaceutical specialists.
The government says the paperless approach is intended to eliminate unnecessary document handling and ensure public transparency: any patient or institution will be able to check a practitioner’s registration status and specialty through the unified registry.
Rationale and expected effects
Officials argue that even minor errors or inadequate training in medicine can directly affect patients’ lives, and that a publicly verifiable registration system will strengthen public trust in hospitals and the broader health system. The five-year renewal cycle is presented as a structural incentive for continuous professional development — pushing practitioners to attend scientific conferences, skills workshops and refresher courses rather than relying indefinitely on qualifications obtained at graduation.
The resolution also aims to prevent unqualified or insufficiently trained individuals from entering the sector, which the government describes as a firm barrier against accidental or incompetent practice. Authorities say the combined effect of mandatory registration, digital verification and periodic renewal should raise the overall standard of medical services and create a more competitive professional environment within the health sector.