India, Uzbekistan deepen pharma ties following high-level meeting

The meeting brought together officials from the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), the Embassy of Uzbekistan in India, and Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency to explore new avenues for bilateral collaboration.

The discussion centred on boosting trade, attracting Indian investment into Uzbekistan’s growing pharmaceutical market, and strengthening regulatory and business frameworks to enable smoother operations for Indian pharma companies in the region.

With Uzbekistan seeking to modernize its healthcare infrastructure and boost local drug manufacturing, Indian pharmaceutical firms were invited to participate in investment forums in Tashkent.

The Uzbek side showcased its strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the sector and expressed keen interest in Indian technical expertise and capital.

“Uzbekistan presents a significant opportunity for Indian pharma exporters and investors. The country’s central location and healthcare reforms make it a promising destination,” said Raja Bhanu, Director General of Pharmexcil.

The meeting also addressed concerns raised by Indian participants regarding product registration and regulatory clarity. Uzbek officials assured that efforts were underway to streamline the approval process and provide transparent guidelines to facilitate Indian market entry.

A key highlight of the discussion was Uzbekistan’s confirmed participation in iPHEX 2025, India’s flagship international exhibition on pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Both sides agreed that the event could serve as a major platform for promoting B2B partnerships, knowledge exchange, and joint manufacturing ventures.

Participants included Oybek Elmuratov, First Deputy Chairman; Sagdullaev Nodirbek and Qahramon Karimbaev, Chief Specialists; and Khurshdibek Samiev, Trade Counsellor from the Uzbek side. Representing India were Raja Bhanu, Vishal Rajgarhia (CoA Member, Pharmexcil), and directors Murali Krishna and Rollins John.

India has emerged as a key supplier of affordable and quality medicines to Uzbekistan, including treatments for hepatitis, allergies, and infectious diseases. The Uzbek pharmaceutical market, growing at a projected rate of 7% annually through 2028, is seen as fertile ground for Indian companies seeking overseas expansion.

Several Indian-Uzbek joint ventures are already operational, and more are expected to follow, as Uzbekistan pushes for self-reliance in drug and medical device manufacturing.

With a shared commitment to healthcare accessibility and innovation, both nations are poised to deepen ties that could redefine pharmaceutical diplomacy in the region.

The major items of India’s exports are pharmaceutical products.

Recently, in a major push to support aspiring Indian medical students seeking education abroad, Apollo MedSkills Ltd, a leading healthcare skill development institution in India, has signed an academic collaboration agreement with Zarmed University in Uzbekistan.

Starting from the 2025-26 academic year, the partnership will offer a specially curated MBBS program for Indian students through the exclusive “ZAAP MBBS Program” at Zarmed University’s campuses in Samarkand and Bukhara.

The program is designed to be taught entirely in English by experienced Indian faculty, ensuring not just ease of learning for Indian students, but also alignment with India's National Medical Commission (NMC) standards.

Under the five-year academic program, followed by a one-year compulsory hospital apprenticeship, students will be prepared to meet the academic and clinical standards necessary to qualify for India’s licensing examinations, including the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), the upcoming National Exit Test (NEXT), as well as international assessments like the USMLE.

The ZAAP MBBS Program is expected to offer a new pathway for Indian students who want quality education abroad without compromising their prospects of returning to practice in India.

The structured program, student support services, and clinical exposure components distinguish it from many other international offerings.

With Uzbekistan emerging as an education hub in Central Asia and offering a culturally familiar and cost-effective alternative for Indian students, the partnership between Apollo MedSkills and Zarmed University could set a new benchmark for transnational medical education.

Applications for the ZAAP MBBS Program for the academic year 2025-26 are expected to open soon, targeting Indian students who have qualified NEET and are seeking an English-medium, NMC-aligned medical education abroad.

Around 7,000 Indian students are currently pursuing medical studies at government-run universities across Uzbekistan, in cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Fergana, Andijan, Termez, and Namangan.

The number rose following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A smaller group of students is also enrolled in private institutions. The Indian Embassy maintains regular contact with university officials to ensure student welfare.

In 2022 and 2023, the Embassy held ‘Welcome Ceremonies’ in Fergana, Tashkent, Samarkand, and Urgench to engage with the Indian student community and address their concerns.