Japan will provide Uzbekistan with new equipment for 14 blood centers and 3 blood transfusion stations worth over $2.3 million under its Economic and Social Development Program. This is expected to increase the share of voluntarily donated blood products and improve medical services.

Uzbekistan’s health minister Asilbek Khudayarov and Japan’s ambassador to Uzbekistan Shinichiro Nakamura signed exchange notes under Japan’s Economic and Social Development Program on 17 December worth 360 million yen (over $2.3 million), the embassy of Japan told Gazeta.

Under the grant program, 14 regional blood centers across Uzbekistan, as well as three blood transfusion stations at national clinics will be equipped with modern facilities for the storage and transportation of blood.

“The implementation of the project will help meet the country’s growing demand for donor blood and increase the share of blood products derived from voluntary blood donation,” the embassy noted.

The diplomatic mission said at the recent first Central Asia-Japan summit in Tokyo, healthcare and the medical sector were identified as one of the priority areas of cooperation between the countries.

“The government of Japan intends to continue contributing to improved access to high-quality medical services in Uzbekistan,” the embassy noted.