Health Minister calls for release of Namangan doctors jailed in measles epidemic controversy

In 2023–2024, measles cases were reported across Uzbekistan, with particularly severe situations in Tashkent city, Tashkent region, Kashkadarya, and Namangan regions. Children with chronic illnesses or disabilities succumbed to measles complications. However, in what has been described as a nationwide “measles epidemic,” only doctors from Namangan faced criminal penalties. During a mobile session of the National Anti-Corruption Council held at the Ministry of Health, the Minister stated that the penalties imposed on Namangan doctors were unjust.

The Ministry of Health hosted a mobile session of the National Anti-Corruption Council.

According to a Kun.uz source, during the meeting, Minister Asilbek Khudoyorov told Supreme Court Chairman Bakhtiyor Islomov that the penalties imposed on Namangan doctors in connection with the “measles epidemic” were unfair. He argued that releasing these medical professionals from detention and returning them to public service would be appropriate. The Minister supported his stance by highlighting the significant shortage of epidemiologists in Uzbekistan, noting that 30% of epidemiologist positions in the Sanitary-Epidemiological Service are vacant, and over 50% of active epidemiologists are of retirement age.

Who are the doctors in question?

Since January 2023, measles cases have been recorded in nearly all regions of Uzbekistan, with particularly severe outbreaks in Tashkent city, Tashkent, Kashkadarya, and Namangan regions. This was noted in a report from the Head of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Ministry of Health, obtained by Kun.uz.

The report was prepared based on an examination of case documents related to a verdict issued by the Namangan City Criminal Court on November 14, 2024. According to this verdict, several officials from Namangan’s Sanitary-Epidemiological Service (SES) and healthcare system were convicted.

Per the court ruling reviewed by Kun.uz, officials M.T., U.M., and Sh.L. from the regional administration falsely reported a “positive” epidemiological situation to the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, despite 311 measles cases being identified in the province between January and August 2023. The court document states that measures such as identifying and isolating infected patients, hospitalizing them in infectious disease facilities, testing contacts, and implementing vaccination campaigns were not carried out. No epidemiological investigations or medical monitoring of infected patients were conducted. As a result, measles cases surged, particularly among young children, worsening the epidemiological situation. In 2023, 1,912 people in the province contracted measles, followed by 875 cases in January–February 2024. Tragically, 25 children with chronic illnesses died due to measles complications.

The chief physician of Namangan’s Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital, I.T., failed to send urgent notifications – via phone within 12 hours or in writing within 24 hours – to the regional SES and Public Health departments regarding identified infectious cases. Additionally, I.T. is accused of falsifying the medical records of 74 patients by recording alternative diagnoses instead of measles to conceal the true situation.

According to the court ruling, A.R., the chief physician of Namangan’s Regional Multidisciplinary Children’s Medical Center, failed to organize laboratory testing for 46 patients suspected of having an infectious disease in 2023, despite 18 of them showing clinical symptoms of measles. This contributed to the widespread transmission of measles among patients and their close contacts, exacerbating the epidemiological crisis.

Five doctors were sentenced to 3 years and 1 month of imprisonment based on the court ruling.

According to the Ministry of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Department report, Namangan ranked second in measles cases in 2023 and third in 2024. The report notes that most of the 25 deceased children were unvaccinated prior to infection and had underlying conditions, with complications often involving pneumonia.

Additionally, on June 30, 2025, Bahodir Yusupaliyev, Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, sent an official letter to Supreme Court Chairman Bakhtiyor Islomov, stating that the prosecution of these medical professionals was unlawful and the imposed penalties were unjust.

According to Aziz Obidov, head of the Supreme Court’s press service, complaints regarding this criminal case are currently under review by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Cases Panel in accordance with appeal procedures.