Health systems in transition : Uzbekistan

part of the primary care system. Dentists are government employees and, as in 
other parts of primary care, facilities are owned by the government. However, 
due to limitations in the state provision of dental materials, dentists charge 
patients service fees for the purpose of purchasing the needed materials. Rural 
dental practices are being reformed as part of ongoing primary health care 
reforms. These reforms envisage delivery of dental health care through the 
network of rural physician points, which will be staffed by dentists. Specialized 
inpatient dental care in the public sector is provided by general inpatient or 
stand-alone institutions. Both are accountable to either 
viloyat
 or national 
health authorities. 
Patients can freely choose their provider, be it public or private. If a 
procedure is performed, they are charged a fee for the required dental materials. 
If there is a need for complex procedures, patients will be referred to the next 
level of care within the public sector, which can be a secondary or tertiary 
institution. Specialized care within public facilities needs to be reimbursed 
by the patients, unless they belong to certain specified groups, which will be 
reimbursed by the government. In the private sector, patients have to cover all 
expenses. Orthodontic services are provided under full price reimbursement 
arrangements by both private and public facilities. 
In recent years, a number of cases of hepatitis B and C have been attributed to 
unsafe practices in dentistry, primarily the improper sterilization of instruments 
and other materials. The government has now stepped up its efforts to monitor 
sterilization practices in dental health care.