Challenges and Responses of Uzbekistan During COVID-19

Abstract

Like the rest of the world, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic showed an unprecedented impact on healthcare system and economy of Uzbekistan. Due to lack of resources, stalled organizational agility and highly bureaucratic decision making, the healthcare system of Uzbekistan did not perform optimally. From the top to the bottom decision-making and path dependent strategies were adopted that were ineffective due to volatile and uncertain nature of pandemic. The whole system collapsed because of lack of beds, medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. The Uzbek government needs strategic plans to keep a fine balance between the economic recovery and spending on deteriorating healthcare system. Unlike many Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries Uzbekistan didn’t deny the existence of COVID-19 in the country. However lack of transparency in data dissemination creates doubts of the intent and accuracy of the information. Uzbekistan would have to apply medium and long-term initiatives and foreign assistance to strengthen the macroeconomic structure and to fight with the inflation and unemployment.

Keywords

• COVID-19 pandemic
• health management challenges
• Uzbekistan

COVID-19 Döneminde Özbekistan'ın Karşılaştığı Güçlükler ve Uygulamaları

Abstract

Tüm dünyada olduğu gibi, koronavirüs hastalığı 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) pandemisi, Özbekistan'ın sağlık sistemi ve ekonomisi üzerinde benzeri görülmemiş bir etkiye yol açmıştır. Kaynak yetersizliği, sağlık sisteminin işleyişindeki yavaşlık ve uzun bürokratik karar alma süreçleri, olumsuz etkiyi arttırmıştır. Pandeminin yapısından kaynaklanan belirsizlikler ve sürekli değişkenlikler dolayısıyla, tüm yönetsel kademelerde etkinlik sağlanamamıştır. Yatak sayısındaki yetersizlik, tıbbi malzeme kısıtı ve sağlık çalışanlarındaki yetersizlik nedeniyle tüm sağlık sistemi çökme noktasına gelmiştir. Özbek hükümetinin ekonomik iyileşme ile kötüleşen sağlık sistemi harcamaları arasında iyi bir denge sağlamak için oldukça kapsamlı stratejik planlara ihtiyacı vardır. Pek çok Bağımsız Devletler Topluluğu (BDT) ülkesinden farklı olarak Özbekistan, COVID-19 pandemisinin ülkede etkili olduğu gerçeğini inkar etmemiştir. Ancak veri paylaşımındaki yetersiz şeffaflık, bilginin doğruluğu hakkında şüphelerin artmasına yol açmaktadır. Zaten uzun yıllardır ekonomik ve sosyal hayatta önemli sorunlarla boğuşan Özbekistan’ın, pandeminin de kötüleştirdiği sağlık sektörü başta olmak üzere, enflasyon ve işsizlik gibi sorunlarla mücadele etmek ve makroekonomik performansını güçlendirmek için orta ve uzun vadeli girişimlere ve yabancı yatırımlar ile dış yardımlara ihtiyaç duyacak gibi görünmektedir.

Keywords

• COVID-19 pandemisi
• sağlık yönetimi sorunları
• Özbekistan

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