AstraZeneca has put forward a proposal to develop an early detection program for chronic heart failure (CHF) in Uzbekistan, aiming to reduce mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases and increase life expectancy in the country. This initiative was presented by Tatyana Kubasova, Director for Business Development and Frontier Markets at AstraZeneca, Russia and Eurasia, during the Third International Pharmaceutical Forum of Uzbekistan.
The Proposal
Kubasova emphasized the necessity of screening for CHF to identify risk factors and detect diseases at early stages.
"The introduction of a screening system will allow optimizing key stages along the patient’s journey: standardized screening of the population for CHF, routing a patient with suspected disease through a 'hotline' to a specialized specialist for diagnosis, receiving personalized treatment according to modern standards, as well as digitalization of medical databases with the ability to analyze patient data," Kubasova stated.
Rationale and Impact
Kubasova pointed out that according to the state strategy until 2030, the goal is to reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases by 30%.
"We are confident that the introduction of CHF screening will directly contribute to achieving this goal. As a result, the state will gain positive experience in implementing such projects, healthy citizens, and the healthcare system will be updated due to positive clinical experience," she explained.
In addition to CHF screening, AstraZeneca also proposed launching pilot projects for cost-sharing and risk-sharing to make expensive treatments more accessible. These models could include discounts, additional packaging, and the development of diagnostic projects. Kubasova emphasized the need for new regulations to implement these models and suggested launching pilot projects to test and refine the approach before scaling it up.
"Models for sharing the cost of treatment can be implemented in different ways. These could be discounts, additional packaging, development of diagnostic projects. We understand that cost-sharing models are a new practice for the Uzbek market, and in order for it to become standard and regular, new regulation is needed. In this regard, we propose to consider the launch of pilot projects, when a nosology is selected, existing drugs on the market for its treatment are analyzed, and then the company and the regulator discuss the mechanics of how such a program can be launched correctly from the point of view of current legislative capabilities and risk assessment, so that later these 'pilots' could be scaled up," she said.
Market Development and International Cooperation
Kubasova also highlighted the rapid development of the pharmaceutical market in Uzbekistan, driven by a national program for disease diagnosis and detection, modernization of the drug supply system, and the gradual introduction of compulsory health insurance. AstraZeneca views Uzbekistan as a market of great interest, aiming to build a comprehensive ecosystem that includes the development of diagnostic programs and the introduction of innovative medicines.
"International companies have a unique competence - the opportunity to attract foreign expertise to exchange experience in healthcare development. For example, our Swedish office participates in dialogue with government agencies in Uzbekistan. Creating such an ecosystem is a complex process that involves large investments on the part of the manufacturer in creating an infrastructure for diagnosing and building routing processes. For this experience to be applicable, there needs to be a stable and long-term partnership between regulators, the company and healthcare experts to make the system work," Kubasova added.
The Third International Pharmaceutical Forum of Uzbekistan, held in Tashkent on May 30 and 31, gathered leaders from the pharmaceutical industry across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Belarus, and other countries. The forum served as an international platform for exchanging experiences and establishing contacts among manufacturers, distributors, authorities, and specialists in regulation and licensing.
AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiology, nephrology, metabolism, respiratory and autoimmune diseases, and rare diseases. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, providing innovative medicines to millions of patients worldwide.
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