Up to 500 children in Uzbekistan suffering from congenital heart defects could receive life-saving high-tech surgeries in 2026 under a new medical cooperation initiative with China.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Health Minister Asilbek Khudayarov and Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yu Jun, as both sides explored expanding bilateral healthcare collaboration, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

According to the Ministry of Health, the advanced cardiac procedures are expected to take place at leading medical institutions, including the National Children's Medical Center, the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Center of Surgery, and the multidisciplinary children’s clinic of Tashkent State Medical University.

Beyond pediatric heart surgery, officials also discussed strengthening the technical infrastructure of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Forensic Medical Examination, modernizing several healthcare facilities, and implementing grant-funded projects to develop traditional Chinese medicine practices in Uzbekistan.

If finalized, the initiative would mark a major step forward in Uzbekistan-China medical cooperation, offering hundreds of families access to advanced treatment and reinforcing the country’s healthcare modernization efforts.