As part of the “Central Asia – Russia” summit and the CIS Heads of State summit held in Dushanbe, a ceremonial event took place to mark the launch of significant projects in Uzbekistan aimed at the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The event was attended by Azim Akhmedkhodjayev, Director of the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom of the Russian Federation, and other officials. Through a teleconference, they officially started earthworks at the construction site of a small nuclear power plant in Farish district of Jizzakh region.

Another significant initiative launched during the ceremony was the project to establish a Center for Nuclear Medicine in Mirzo Ulugbek district of Tashkent city. The event was attended by Minister of Health Asilbek Khudoyorov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sergey Berezin Medical Institute Arkady Stolpner, as well as specialists and representatives of the public.

It is noted that the project will be implemented in several stages. During the preparatory phase, a comprehensive analysis of the current state of global nuclear medicine was conducted, along with a study of the best practices of leading countries in this field.

The Center will be established in cooperation with the Sergey Berezin Medical Institute and will cover a total area of 12,000 square meters.

The center will introduce proton therapy for the treatment of complex oncological diseases, encompassing all stages from diagnostics to radiosurgery. At the first stage, a nuclear diagnostics center will be created, equipped with positron emission tomography (PET), a cyclotron complex, and a radiopharmaceutical laboratory. In subsequent stages, radionuclide therapy will be introduced and the range of isotopic studies expanded.

The project is also expected to contribute to the development of medical tourism in Uzbekistan and the creation of over one hundred new jobs.

Through the center’s operations, a national pool of professionals in nuclear medicine will be formed. The institution will serve as a hub for scientific research, testing of new treatment methods, and training of highly qualified specialists.

Overall, the project aims to implement state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic methods using nuclear technologies.

Ikrom Avvalboyev, Abdujalol Qayumov, UzA