Access to Anticancer Medicines in Uzbekistan: A Comprehensive Review Article Based on Lessons from South Asia

Cancer has become one of the leading global health issues in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Uzbekistan is no different. Like many developing countries, Uzbekistan has a greater cancer burden and limited affordable access to cancer treatment. This study derives lessons for the health and pharmaceutical sectors of Uzbekistan from the BMJ Open study “Determinants of Access to Anticancer Medicines in South Asia.” The study analyzes the function of the National Essential Medicines Lists (NEMLs) and the medicine registration system, the role of local pharmaceutical production, the financing of health care and regional cooperation in determining access to cancer care. This study reviews structural barriers of financing, a reliance on imported medicines and regulatory obstacles, rural health care imbalances and a shortage of health care workers. Policymaking lessons from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, show that medicine can be made more available and affordable through comprehensive, integrated policies. Uzbekistan has made extensive, positive changes to the modernization of health care and the pharmaceutical field, but significant access barriers to safe, effective cancer therapies and adequate health care remains.  This study indicates that Uzbekistan needs a coordinated national policy which is focused on the (1) evidence-based medicine policies, (2) better regulation, (3) investment in local medicines manufacture, (4) comprehensive financing of health care, and (5) regional cooperation in Central Asia. Reforms focused on these factors would be beneficial for health care equity and improvement of cancer care outcomes.