Uzbekistan’s orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) ecosystem is largely public-sector anchored, with national rehabilitation/prosthetics centres providing assessment, fabrication, fitting, and follow-up for persons with disabilities. Demand is being driven by rapidly rising diabetes prevalence, sustained stroke and cardiovascular disability, trauma, and long-term mobility impairment.

What stands out in Uzbekistan is the policy direction on financing and access: national legislation frames prosthetic-orthopaedic aids and technical rehabilitation devices as a state-budget responsibility (including manufacture and repair), while recent reforms are shifting delivery toward voucher-based, e-commerce-enabled reimbursement and an expanded list of guaranteed items.

Prevalence & demand drivers (key statistics)

Diabetes

Diabetes is a major long-term driver of O&P demand through diabetic foot ulcers, Charcot risk, vascular complications, and amputation risk. The IDF Diabetes Atlas estimates for Uzbekistan:

• ~1.5 million adults (20–79) living with diabetes in 2024, projected to rise further by 2050.
  (World Bank’s indicator also reports 7.5% prevalence (20–79) for 2024.)

Stroke & cardiovascular disease

Stroke and CVD remain major contributors to disability—driving demand for AFOs/KAFOs, upper-limb supports, gait rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up. An Uzbekistan stroke registry paper reported incidence of ~310.32 cases per 100,000 (age ≥20) in the studied zones, underlining the scale of rehabilitation need.
(Separately, global projections research has flagged Uzbekistan among countries expected to see large increases in age-adjusted stroke incidence trends.)

Persons with disabilities

Uzbekistan has been strengthening its disability and social protection framework, including policies that explicitly cover prosthetic-orthopaedic aids and technical rehabilitation devices as part of state commitments.

Amputations & mobility impairment

Publicly consolidated national amputee totals are not consistently available in one place, but the combination of large diabetes burden and stroke/CVD-related disability signals sustained demand for prostheses, orthoses, footwear/offloading, and repair services.

Uzbekistan O&P system snapshot

Uzbekistan’s O&P delivery model can be described as state-funded + centre-based, with an accelerating shift to digitised access and reimbursement:

• State budget financing: legislation specifies that provision (including manufacture and repair) is financed from the State Budget.
• Quality + modernization agenda: national policy documents emphasise improving provision with high-quality prosthetic-orthopaedic products, modern technologies, and modernization of production capacity.
• National centre delivery: the National Center for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics of Persons with Disabilities publishes a dedicated Prosthetics Department and related services.

Top orthotic & prosthetic service providers in Uzbekistan

1) National Center for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics of Persons with Disabilities (public) – Tashkent

The primary public-facing national facility describing a dedicated Prosthetics Department and rehabilitation/prosthetics service provision.

2) Research Institute of Orthopedics, Traumatology and Bone Tuberculosis (NIITO) – Tashkent (public/academic)

A specialist orthopaedics/trauma institute and clinical base, relevant to complex musculoskeletal pathways and referrals that commonly require orthotic support and post-surgical rehabilitation integration.

3) OrtMed (private) – Tashkent

A private provider explicitly offering prosthetic and orthotic fittings, diagnostics (including 3D scanning), and rehabilitation support in one facility model.

4) Regional branches / networked access points (public)

The national centre is listed with branch locations (e.g., Mirzo-Ulugbek/Yashnabad listings), indicating a broader delivery footprint beyond a single building—important for follow-up and repairs.

Reimbursement & access: how it works (and where it’s heading)

Uzbekistan is moving toward a clearer, more scalable financing model with three key pillars:

1) Budget-funded entitlement

Core policy positions prosthetic-orthopaedic aids and technical rehabilitation devices as a state-funded obligation, including manufacture and repair—creating a foundation for reimbursement.

2) Expanded guaranteed list

Government communications report the state-guaranteed list expanding from 18 to 30 items, widening what can be reimbursed/covered.

3) Voucher-based, e-commerce-enabled provision

From 2024, Uzbekistan introduced a system to provide prosthetic devices and rehabilitation aids through electronic commerce on a voucher basis (phased rollout from Tashkent/Samarkand to nationwide). The same update reports reimbursement amounts increased ~3x on average and up to 10x for some items—a strong signal that reimbursement ceilings are being raised to match real market costs.

Practical implication: for patients, this should gradually mean more choice of products/providers, faster procurement, and more transparent reimbursement—though outcomes will depend on implementation quality, provider accreditation, and repair/maintenance funding.

Key challenges

• NCD-driven volume growth (diabetes + stroke) will increase demand for orthoses, diabetic foot solutions, and prosthetic services faster than workforce capacity if training doesn’t scale.
• Regional continuity of care: follow-up, adjustments, and repairs can remain bottlenecks if services are concentrated in major cities.
• Quality assurance: modernization goals and reimbursement expansion need robust product standards, certification, and outcome tracking to prevent “volume without outcomes.”

Growth opportunities (what comes next)

• Diabetic foot prevention at scale: screening → risk stratification → early offloading/footwear → rapid referral (highest ROI given diabetes growth).
• Digital O&P workflows: scan → CAD → fabricate to improve repeatability, shorten lead times, and support documentation for voucher reimbursement.
• Repair & maintenance networks: formalize repair funding and regional service points to reduce downtime and improve device longevity.
• Stroke pathway integration: standard AFO access protocols in neurorehabilitation and primary follow-up to improve mobility outcomes.

IMEA CPO outlook

Uzbekistan is one of the more interesting Central Asian markets because reimbursement is not just “policy talk”—it’s being operationalised through expanded guaranteed lists and a voucher-based digital purchasing model, with reported increases in reimbursed amounts. With diabetes estimated at ~1.5 million adults (20–79) in 2024 and a meaningful stroke burden, the winners in this ecosystem will be those who can deliver quality + follow-up + measurable outcomes at scale—supported by transparent reimbursement, modern fabrication, and regional access.