Government grapples with salary challenges for healthcare workers

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov acknowledged the issue, describing the question of determining “who should receive higher salaries and why” in the healthcare sector as particularly challenging.

Qosimova highlighted the significant allocation of 52% of the national budget to social sectors and noted a recent 15% salary increase for public sector workers in October. Despite this, she expressed concern that insufficient wages were pushing skilled professionals to the private sector, potentially compromising the quality of public services.

“While the salary increase is commendable, it’s evident that many qualified professionals are leaving public healthcare and education for better-paying private roles. If this continues, the quality of public services will undoubtedly suffer,” she stated.

In response, Kuchkarov emphasized the government’s efforts to address salary disparities but admitted that a comprehensive solution was still lacking.

“Your concern is valid. Low wages in healthcare could indeed impact the quality of services provided. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has already instructed us to implement a system similar to education, where teachers with international certifications receive higher salaries. A similar approach is being considered for healthcare workers,” Kuchkarov explained.

He stressed that the complexity lies in identifying the right criteria for salary increases. “Should all salaries be raised by 15%, 40%, or even 50%? Will such increases yield the desired results? The priority is to ensure that highly qualified and dedicated healthcare workers are adequately compensated. However, we currently lack clear solutions,” he added.

Kuchkarov reassured MPs that improving compensation for healthcare workers is a priority for President Mirziyoyev. “The president frequently addresses healthcare challenges, including fair remuneration for highly skilled and dedicated professionals. This topic was extensively discussed during the recent presentation of macroeconomic forecasts and next year’s state budget,” he noted.

Despite unresolved questions about healthcare salaries, the 2025 state budget draft was conceptually approved in its first reading during the session.