While travelling in Uzbekistan, health problems can sometimes occur – from minor injuries and food poisoning to sudden illness or the flare-up of a chronic condition. Uzbekistan has a state emergency medical service, while major cities also have private clinics that work with international patients.
This section provides emergency telephone numbers, contacts for private clinics with English-speaking staff, and practical advice on what to do if you need medical help. It also covers medical insurance in Uzbekistan and clinic information for the country’s main tourist cities.
Emergency Numbers in Uzbekistan
If the situation is dangerous or poses a threat to life or health, do not try to find a clinic yourself or waste time – call an ambulance.
103 — Ambulance
Available 24 hours a day; free to call. Operators speak Uzbek and Russian; English is not guaranteed.
112 — Single emergency number
May redirect you to the ambulance service, police, fire brigade or the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Additional numbers:
102 — Police
101 — Fire Service
1050 — Ministry of Emergency Situations Rescue Service
1173 — Tourist helpline – the operator can transfer your call to the ambulance service.
Private Ambulance Services in Uzbekistan
In Tashkent:
Tashkent International Clinic (TIC)
Doctors and staff speak English
38 Sarikul Street
Website: www.tashclinic.org
AKFA Medline
English-speaking doctors and an interpreter are available
5A Kichik Halqa Yuli Street
Website: akfamedline.uz/en
MDS Service
Available 24 hours a day. Doctors do not speak English
110/3 Botkin Street
Website: mds.uz
In Samarkand:
SAM EKSTRAMED SERVIS
Available 24 hours a day. Doctors do not speak English
What to tell the ambulance dispatcher
Try to describe the situation calmly and clearly:
- what has happened – injury, pain, poisoning or an accident;
- the person’s current condition and symptoms – unconsciousness, bleeding, difficulty breathing or fever;
- the exact address or nearest landmark – hotel, restaurant or shopping centre;
- the number of people affected;
- your name and contact telephone number.
Important: Do not hang up first. Wait until the dispatcher confirms that the call has been accepted and ends the call.
If the operator does not understand English, try to find someone nearby who can explain the situation in Uzbek or Russian.
If there is no one to help, call the tourist helpline on 1173 — the operator can transfer your call to the ambulance service.
If you are travelling with Advantour, call your tour operator. They will contact the ambulance service immediately and help you get assistance.
Public and Private Clinics in Uzbekistan
If your condition is stable and you have time to choose where to seek treatment, you can visit either a public hospital, a state clinic or a private medical centre. In most cases, medical care is chargeable; some clinics work with insurance companies. You can read more about medical insurance in Uzbekistan below.
Major cities in Uzbekistan have specialist state clinics and general hospitals, while private clinics usually offer more comfortable facilities, though at a higher cost. Diagnostic equipment, including ultrasound, X-ray and MRI, is available in most major medical centres.
Below is a list of medical centres that may be useful for tourists because of their location, range of services, diagnostic facilities or experience working with foreign patients.
Tashkent
Centre for Traumatology and Orthopaedics
also known as the Medical Centre of Traumatology and Orthopaedics
+998 71 233 80 04
78 Makhtumquli Street, Tashkent
Website: uzniito.uz
Doctors may speak conversational English. First aid is provided free of charge. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the centre in advance.
Shox International Hospital
1831, +998 71 207 00 17, +998 71 202 02 12
70A Kichik Halqa Yuli Street, Tashkent
English-speaking doctors and managers are available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the hospital in advance.
Kimyo University Hospital
+998 55 508 40 40
19 Bunyodkor Street, Tashkent
Website: kimyohospital.uz
Main specialisations include surgery, paediatrics and general medical services. Some travel insurance providers may be accepted, including Assist, Esado and Neo Insurance; check with the hospital before treatment.
Samarkand
Centre for Traumatology and Orthopaedics
also known as the Medical Centre of Traumatology and Orthopaedics
+998 66 240 15 48, +998 66 240 15 42
73 Kozizoda Rumi Street, Samarkand
English-speaking doctors may be available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the centre in advance.
Bionur Med Service
+998 97 406 11 11, +998 55 701 03 03
16 Katta Uzbek Tract Street, Samarkand
Website: bionurmedservis.uz
Not all doctors speak English, but an interpreter may be available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the clinic in advance.
Innova Expert
+998 78 210 03 33
1, 3rd Dagbitskiy Avenue, Samarkand
Website: sam.innova.uz
Not all doctors speak English, but an interpreter may be available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the clinic in advance.
Meros International Hospital
+998 55 705 08 08
62 Ali Kushchi Street, Samarkand
Website: meros-hospital.uz
English-speaking doctors may be available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the hospital in advance.
Bukhara
Emergency Medical Centre
also known as Emergency Hospital
+998 65 225 10 26, +998 65 225 20 20
159 Bahauddin Naqshband Street, Bukhara
Emergency medical care is available to everyone, including tourists. Registration or a residence permit is not required.
Bukhara Railway Hospital
in Kagan city
+998 65 524 78 16
50 Umida Street, Kagan, Bukhara Region
English-speaking doctors may be available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the hospital in advance.
Carmen Plus Clinic
+998 65 505 01 03, +998 65 505 01 04
110 Namozgoh Street, Bukhara
A wide range of medical services is available, but an interpreter may be required. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the clinic in advance.
Himchan Hospital
+998 94 246 01 90, +998 78 770 08 30
1A M. Iqbal Street, Bukhara
English-speaking doctors may be available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the hospital in advance.
Urgench / Khiva area
Memorial Hospital Urgench
+998 95 224 03 30, +998 95 382 56 84
59/3 Pahlavan Mahmud Street, Urgench
A wide range of medical services is available, but an interpreter may be required. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the hospital in advance.
SurgeMed International
+998 55 601 15 03
96A Al-Khorezmi Street, Urgench
Website: surgemed.uz
English-speaking doctors may be available. Travel insurance may be accepted; check with the clinic in advance.
Travel Health Insurance for Tourists in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is generally a safe country, and travel health insurance is not required for entry. Even so, accidents and sudden health problems can happen anywhere, including while travelling, and insurance can help protect you from significant medical expenses abroad. Healthcare in Uzbekistan is well developed, although more advanced medical facilities are mainly concentrated in major cities.
In Uzbekistan, medical costs are usually handled in one of three ways:
Assistance service – you contact your insurance company, and they refer you to a specific clinic in Uzbekistan with which they have a partnership agreement.
Direct billing – you receive treatment at a clinic, provide the insurance company with the clinic’s details, and the insurer pays eligible costs directly.
Reimbursement – you pay for treatment yourself, keep all receipts and medical documents, and claim reimbursement from your insurance company after treatment or once you return home.
Only a limited number of private clinics in Uzbekistan work with international insurance companies through assistance services. For this reason, direct billing and reimbursement are more common. Foreign tourists can also take out a policy with an insurance company in Uzbekistan.
Advantages of local insurance in Uzbekistan:
- Access to a wider range of clinics, including private medical centres with English-speaking staff;
- the possibility of direct billing at some medical centres;
- costs may be lower than comparable international insurance for the same level of cover within Uzbekistan.
Disadvantages of local insurance in Uzbekistan:
- The policy is usually valid only within Uzbekistan;
- language support from the assistance company may be limited.
The level of cover depends on the chosen policy and usually includes emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation. If you are planning a skiing holiday, extreme sports or travel to remote areas, make sure your policy includes the appropriate extensions. Standard policies usually do not cover risks connected with high-altitude conditions, complex logistics or specialist evacuation.
Useful Tips for Travellers in a Medical Emergency
- Save the main emergency numbers in your phone before your trip: 103 for ambulance and 112 for the national emergency service.
- Keep a copy of your insurance policy and key medical information with you, including your blood type, chronic conditions, allergies and any regular medication. It is also useful to keep scans or photos on your phone.
- Carry a power bank – a dead phone can become a serious problem in an emergency.
- Be cautious with street food if you have a sensitive stomach.
- Drink bottled water, especially during the first few days of your trip.
- For non-emergency health issues, private clinics are usually the better option, as they are more likely to have English-speaking staff and faster service.
- Keep all medical receipts and documents if you pay for treatment yourself, as you may need them for an insurance claim.
- Use an online translator and download an offline dictionary app in advance in case you face a language barrier with doctors or dispatchers.
- Pack a basic first-aid kit with painkillers, paracetamol, plasters, antiseptic and any medication you take regularly.
- Do not hesitate to ask people nearby for help. In hotels, speak to the staff – they can usually explain the situation to the ambulance dispatcher more quickly.
- Keep the phone number of your tour operator or host company to hand, as they can also help arrange medical assistance.
- Try to stay calm in an emergency. Clear information and calm communication can help speed up the response.