Health systems in transition : Uzbekistan

4.2 Human resources
4.2.1 Health workforce trends 
A perceived surplus of physicians in the early years of independence resulted 
in cutbacks in the enrolment of medical schools. The number of physicians per 
100 000 population has declined since 1990 and is now slightly below the average 
for the central Asian countries (Fig. 4.3). There has been no major reduction in 
the number of nurses per population and rates in Uzbekistan exceed regional 
averages (Figs. 4.4 and 4.6). The number of dentists per 100 000 population has 
declined since 1990 and is now lower than in central Asia as a whole (Fig. 4.5). 
The share of physicians working in hospitals declined from 63.8% in 1991 to 
39.7% in 2000 and then increased to 45.3% in 2009 (WHO Regional Office for 
Fig. 4.3
Number of physicians per 100 000 population in Uzbekistan and selected countries, 
1990–2012 
Source
:
 
WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2014a.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Physicians per 100 
000
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
CIS
CARK
EU 

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Health systems in transition
  
Uzbekistan
64
Europe, 2014a). However, there are significant disparities in the regional 
distribution of health care workers, with a concentration in urban areas and 
shortages in rural areas.
Fig. 4.4
Number of nurses per 100 000 population in Uzbekistan and selected countries, 
1990–2012 
Source
:
 
WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2014a.
Fig. 4.5
Number of dentists per 100 000 population in Uzbekistan and selected countries, 
1990–2012 
Source
:
 
WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2014a..
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
Nurses (PP) per 100 
000
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
CIS
CARK
EU 
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Dentists (PP) per 100 
000
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
CIS
CARK
EU 

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Health systems in transition
  
Uzbekistan