Bringing clarity, precision, and hope to cancer care for the people of Uzbekistan

“It requires several critical stages: precise early detection, carefully planned treatment, and the ability to manage complex cases. Without the right tools, it is impossible to address all these stages properly”.

Today, with new technologies installed at the centers across Uzbekistan, this entire pathway can be followed with evidence, precision, and a strong focus on patient needs. This transformation is part of a joint initiative by the Government of Uzbekistan, the Islamic Development Bank, and UNOPS, with a total value of USD 80 million. By 2026, the project aims to equip 14 hospitals across the country with advanced medical and radiological equipment, strengthening oncology services nationwide. To date, more than 1,700 units of equipment, worth USD 62 million, have been installed in all regions of Uzbekistan, bringing modern cancer care closer to patients.

“These investments allowed us to introduce technologies that were not previously available in the country,” Dr. Izrailbekova says. “At our center in Tashkent, we are now using advanced systems that play a key role at different stages of cancer care: advanced diagnostic equipment, modern linear accelerators, and angiography.”

Advanced diagnostics: Understanding the disease

“For many patients, the most difficult part of a cancer diagnosis is uncertainty – understanding where the disease is, how advanced it is, and what comes next. Advanced diagnostic technologies have fundamentally changed this moment”, Dr. Izrailbekova explains. 

As part of the project, a set of modern diagnostic equipment was installed to strengthen cancer detection and decision-making across the country. This includes one PET-CT system, one SPECT-CT system, seven MRI units, and six multi-slice CT scanners installed in national and regional centers, with a total investment of USD 14.9 million. Together, these technologies allow doctors to assess both the structure and biological activity of disease, providing a much clearer picture of how cancer behaves in each individual patient.

“Advanced diagnostics support accurate staging, help us understand whether treatment is working, and guide the planning of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Instead of relying on indirect indicators, we can base decisions on real evidence”, she adds.

“When I first heard the diagnosis, I was terrified,” Nazira recalls. She was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. “My first thought was surgery”, she adds. Like many patients, Nazira associated cancer treatment with invasive procedures and uncertainty. However, diagnostic assessments allowed doctors to better understand the biological behavior of the cancer and showed that surgery was not immediately required.

“This approach reduced physical trauma for our patient and ensured that treatment decisions were based on how the cancer was actually behaving, not assumptions,” explains Dr. Izrailbekova. “Now we use precise diagnostic tools, and we can tailor treatment to the patient – not the other way around.” 

“Today, I feel calmer,” Nazira says. “I am confident that my treatment is carefully thought through”, she adds with a smile. 

Linear accelerators: Treating the disease with precision 

“Radiotherapy is one of the most effective cancer treatments, but its success depends on precision”, explains Dr. Izrailbekova, as she walks through the radiotherapy department.

Modern linear accelerators have changed how radiotherapy is delivered. They allow radiation to be directed precisely at the tumor, while protecting the healthy tissue around it. Through this joint initiative, the center received three modern linear accelerators, with a total value of USD 7.1 million, which are especially important when tumors are close to vital organs or have complex shapes.

“Most importantly, it removes the need for the patient to travel abroad for treatment and allows receiving care that meets international standards”, she notes. “With such equipment, we deliver safer, more effective treatment with confidence”.

Angiography: Managing complex cases through minimally invasive solutions

“Some cancer cases are very complex,” explains Dr. Kamila. “They cannot be treated with surgery alone, and sometimes surgery itself can pose serious risks. That is where angiography becomes essential.” 

The project supported the installation of three angiography systems, including two in regional centers, with a total investment of USD 2.1 million. This equipment enables minimally invasive, image-guided treatment from inside the blood vessels, offering an entirely different approach to cancer care. Instead of operating directly on an organ, doctors can reach tumors through the vascular system, either cutting off its blood supply or delivering treatment directly to the affected area. 

“Angiography allows us to treat very complex cases in a controlled and gentle way,” says Dr. Izrailbekova. “It helps protect organs, reduce risks for patients, and offer effective treatment options even when surgery is not the best solution.” 

“When we have the right tools, we can focus on what matters most – the patient,” says Dr. Kamila Izrailbekova. By investing in advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, the project is strengthening national oncology services and expanding equitable access to high-quality cancer care across Uzbekistan.