A New Stage: How Uzbekistan is Building a Modern Palliative Care System
On June 1st, an educational programme was launched in Tashkent for the team of a new adult hospice, scheduled to open in July 2026. The programme is being implemented by the Palliative Care Association of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with PACED, with support from the Ministry of Health and the National Social Protection Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
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A total of 50 specialists (doctors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers) will receive training. The programme comprises three modules: theory, practical training, and a final knowledge audit. At the same time, the government is launching major support measures: substantial salary bonuses for palliative care specialists have been approved, and the Association is preparing to introduce E-palliative, a digital service that dispenses medication using Face ID.
Roman Sklotskiy, Managing Director of PACED:
‘For us, it is crucial to help establish a sustainable training system within the hospice. International experience shows that investing in team competencies ensures consistent quality of palliative care and provides vital support to families in the most challenging situations.’
The programme began with a milestone event—the official opening of the Palliative and Hospice Care Association of Uzbekistan, attended by representatives of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and WHO. The opening ceremony was marked by a warm atmosphere, with poetry readings and a symbolic candlelighting ceremony.
Roman Sklotskiy, Managing Director of PACED:
‘For us, it is crucial to help establish a sustainable training system within the hospice. International experience shows that investing in team competencies ensures consistent quality of palliative care and provides vital support to families in the most challenging situations.’
The programme began with a milestone event—the official opening of the Palliative and Hospice Care Association of Uzbekistan, attended by representatives of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and WHO. The opening ceremony was marked by a warm atmosphere, with poetry readings and a symbolic candlelighting ceremony.
Roman Sklotskiy, photo: Archive of the Palliative Care Association of Uzbekistan
The first educational block was led by Lithuanian expert Marius Čiurlionis, the current President of the Baltic Palliative Care Association and a board member of the EAPC. Under his guidance, the multidisciplinary hospice team explored the philosophy of the hospice movement and examined the concept of total pain, which encompasses a patient's physical, psychological, and spiritual suffering.
The subsequent days of the programme were dedicated to developing clinical and communication skills in depth. Under the guidance of Professor Nicoleta Mitrea, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at Transilvania University of Brașov, the team mastered intra-team communication, palliative care ethics, the SPIKES protocol for delivering bad news, and strategies for overcoming the ‘conspiracy of silence’.
The subsequent days of the programme were dedicated to developing clinical and communication skills in depth. Under the guidance of Professor Nicoleta Mitrea, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at Transilvania University of Brașov, the team mastered intra-team communication, palliative care ethics, the SPIKES protocol for delivering bad news, and strategies for overcoming the ‘conspiracy of silence’.
Marius Čiurlionis and Nicoleta Mitrea, photo: Archive of the Palliative Care Association of Uzbekistan
The clinical block was led by physicians Yahyo Ziyaev and Rustam Norbaev, board members of the newly established Palliative Care Association of Uzbekistan. The programme focused on chronic pain management and nutritional support. Participants dispelled myths about opioid use and learned to manage neuropathic pain syndrome.
The final stage featured team-building and leadership training. Building a sustainable palliative care system is impossible without seamless collaboration among specialists from diverse backgrounds.
The final stage featured team-building and leadership training. Building a sustainable palliative care system is impossible without seamless collaboration among specialists from diverse backgrounds.
Photo: Archive of the Palliative Care Association of Uzbekistan
This educational week in Tashkent has laid the foundations for the future hospice's operations and set in motion vital processes to advance palliative care in Uzbekistan.
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