Tashkent: Azerbaijani media representatives recently visited Uzbekistan's National Children's Medical Center as part of their media tour of the country. The visit provided insight into one of Uzbekistan's foremost specialized medical institutions.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Baxtiyorjon Umarov, the director of the center, highlighted the facility's status as a leading institution for treating children with cancer, hematological disorders, and immunological diseases. The center, boasting 280 beds and 12 inpatient departments, achieved a significant milestone in April 2024 by becoming the first public medical institution in Uzbekistan to receive JCI accreditation. It remains the only specialized pediatric center globally to have achieved this recognition. Umarov emphasized the center's dual provision of outpatient and inpatient care.
During the visit, the Azerbaijani journalists explored various departments, including radiology, nuclear medicine, and the outpatient clinic. They learned about the center's modern diagnostic and treatment capabilities, as well as its significant achievements in performing advanced surgical procedures such as Uzbekistan's first bone marrow and kidney transplants.
Arzu Ahmadova, head of the center's Radiology Department, discussed the strategic importance of pediatric medicine in Uzbekistan, noting that approximately 900,000 children are born in the country each year. Ahmadova shared that the center focuses on complex cases and conducted 6,400 surgeries last year. She stated that the center is open to sharing its clinical expertise with other medical professionals and institutions, aiming for further collaboration. Developments in pediatric neurosurgery and cardiac surgery were highlighted, with specialists increasingly adopting less invasive treatment methods.
Additionally, the center prioritizes advanced cancer diagnostics, employing MRI tractography and navigation systems for neurosurgical procedures. Ahmadova credited the Zamin Foundation for its support in pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplantation, noting that around 50 bone marrow transplants have been completed at the center.
Discussions during the visit also touched on future cooperation between medical institutions in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, with Uzbek specialists expressing their appreciation for the existing ties with Azerbaijan. The journalists were able to observe the advanced facilities available for young patients, the dedication of the medical staff, and the cutting-edge technologies employed in diagnosing and treating serious illnesses.