Inaugural Address by Ambassador at Conference on Medical Tourism in India
Hotel Hyatt Regency, Tashkent; December 12, 2025
Distinguished Guests,
For any health care system to be efficient and responsive, it must be affordable, accessible and it must be transparent. In a world where healthcare is not accessible to all, this must essentially be seen as service to humanity and not just a corporate venture.
It means that a good health care system should not just be able to detect, assess and respond, it should do so in minimal time, at an affordable cost and must do so with a compassionate and beneficence approach.
Yesterday, I had discussions with some of my hospitals which are present here today and what struck me was all of them have been involved in providing health care services on pro bono basis in Uzbekistan.
I was, therefore, very pleased when I was informed that they had been actively involved in conducting free OPD camps focusing on cardiology oncology neurology, sending super specialists from India to hospitals here, organizing conferences in oncology including the one in held in May last year which was attended by 550 doctors, conducting proton therapy treatments, undertaking liver transplants at the National Medical Centre in Tashkent and training Uzbek doctors every year on orthopaedic surgeries, liver transplant, onco-surgery, radiation oncology.
These are significant milestones and reflective of the spirit which guides Indian healthcare system and also Indian doctors are known for their expertise and life-saving skills worldwide.
Back home, India currently has strength of 1.4 million doctors supported by trained, efficient and skilled nurses and paramedics.
Several hospitals in India are JCI / NABH-accredited, ensuring global standards. The range of medical services be it cardiac surgery, joint replacement, organ transplants, fertility treatments, oncology, and wellness therapies are something that experts will speak on and let us also not forget India’s expertise in wellness therapies, Ayurveda, Yoga and naturopathy.
I think what really stands out in all this is the point I made earlier – the affordability factor. The costs at which services are offered can be seen and compared with other countries.
People’s lives are to be handled with a compassionate approach. Every life matters. I would request my hospitals to contribute even more in the area of capacity building.
Going forward, we will continue to organise more camps with the help of our super specialists focusing on the imminent needs of Uzbekistan. We will continue to hold hands and ensure that not just medical care but quality attention is also given by our hospitals. From Embassy, I can assure that visas will never be a constraint and we will facilitate quick travel of our Uzbek friends to India.
More importantly, let’s not forget that India-Uzbekistan relation is underpinned by strong people-to-people ties. The links between our peoples are a vital component of our strategic partnership and I am glad that our hospitals and our illustrious doctors on both sides appreciate the special ties we have with the people of Uzbekistan.
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