Uzbekistan plans to introduce special student visas

As it was previously reported, on April 16, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting focused on the comprehensive development of Andijan region.

During the session, the president highlighted the region’s potential for the development of medical tourism. A 650-bed clinic, transferred to the balance of Andijan State Medical Institute (ASMI) in 2024 for student practice, is expected to serve as the foundation for a new medical tourism brand.

A cluster will be established at the clinic, comprising departments for traumatology, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics. For this purpose, an additional 100 billion UZS will be allocated on top of the 180 billion UZS previously directed toward renovation and re-equipment of the clinic.

The clinic’s simulation center will implement a two-stage qualification assessment for medical staff. Doctors and other healthcare workers who pass the evaluation will receive a 100% salary bonus.

The medical faculty of Namangan State University is set to be transferred to ASMI as a branch, with plans to eventually transform it into an independent institution. ASMI itself will be granted university status.

By attracting students from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, and India, the region could earn up to $20 million annually through educational exports. Relevant authorities have been instructed to submit proposals for introducing special "student visas."

Additionally, plans are in place to open private medical units in at least 100 neighborhoods in each region, replicating the Andijan model. Properties that remain unsold for six months will be leased to private businesses for five years with an option to purchase, aimed at opening private clinics.

The meeting also touched upon the reform of 56 technical schools in the region. The president called for incentive systems to be introduced for the heads of vocational institutions who successfully implement dual education models and programs that combine learning with employment.