Uzbek Official Meets Afghan Health Authorities on Pharmaceutical Cooperation

KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- A high-level Uzbek delegation led by Abdullah Azizov, head of Uzbekistan's Medicine Production and Industry Development Agency, met with Afghan health officials in Kabul to discuss expanding pharmaceutical cooperation.

According to Amu TV, the delegation engaged with officials from Afghanistan's Food and Drug Administration under the Taliban administration. Omid Radio and RTA reported that Public Health Minister Maulvi Noor Jalal Jalali also participated in the talks with Azizov.

Discussions focused on strengthening medicine trade, increasing exports, joint production projects, capacity building for Afghan health workers, facilitating treatment for Afghan patients in Uzbekistan, and implementing a signed memorandum of understanding. Both sides emphasized the need for quality assurance in medicines, standard health services, ongoing bilateral coordination, and practical steps to improve public health services.

Azizov highlighted the lengthy and challenging drug registration process in Afghanistan as a major barrier that requires simplification to boost cooperation, Amu TV reported. Uzbekistan expressed readiness to support pharmaceutical production, exports, technical knowledge transfers, and training programs.

Amu TV further noted Uzbekistan's plans to produce $50 million worth of drugs in the Syr Darya region specifically for export to Afghanistan, as part of a broader $1 billion export target over five years.

The meeting underscores growing economic ties between Kabul and Tashkent in the health sector amid efforts to address Afghanistan's pharmaceutical needs.