As medical assistance requests double in six months, AP Companies is expanding its local medical team and directly contracted provider network, widening access to local patient tariffs, domestic payments and in-person hospital support. An enhanced clinical assessment service will launch on 1 December 2026.
AP Companies has expanded its presence in Uzbekistan in response to rising demand from international insurers and assistance companies. The number of medical assistance requests handled by AP Companies in the country doubled over the past six months and continues to grow.
Over that period, AP Companies has added local medical specialists, expanded its network of directly contracted providers and secured permission for its medical team to visit patients at several major hospitals. These developments give international payors more options for arranging treatment and allow AP Companies to review treatment plans, negotiate costs and coordinate care while a case is still active.
A growing healthcare market with more than 1,000 facilities in the AP Companies database
Uzbekistan’s real GDP grew by 7.7% in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund. Its healthcare system includes private clinics and hospitals, public facilities at district and regional level, and national specialist centres, known locally as republican specialist centres.
At the end of 2024, Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee recorded 1,972 hospitals, including 1,301 private hospitals, and 8,107 outpatient and polyclinic facilities. The figures reflect the breadth of the market, from outpatient clinics and diagnostic providers to hospitals and specialist centres that can manage more complex cases.
AP Companies’ provider database in Uzbekistan now includes more than 1,000 medical facilities across the public and private sectors. Within that wider database, AP Companies is expanding its direct agreements with selected providers. The local team assesses facilities based on clinical capabilities, location and commercial terms.
The aim is to maintain access to the hospitals and clinics clients use most often while developing clinically appropriate alternatives. That gives assistance teams more flexibility when a patient needs a particular specialist, a facility closer to their location or another treatment option at a competitive price.
Local patient tariffs, direct billing and real-time cost negotiations
Its presence in Uzbekistan has enabled AP Companies to obtain provider price lists applicable to local patients. The team uses these price lists as a benchmark when negotiating tariffs, discounts and direct billing arrangements with clinics and hospitals.
For complex cases, the local team can also discuss treatment costs with the provider as care progresses. If a treatment plan changes or a hospital stay is extended, the team can review the clinical rationale, clarify the scope of the proposed services and discuss the revised costs directly with the facility.
Medical bill reviews complement these discussions by checking whether charges are supported by the services documented and reflect the terms agreed with the provider. Together, these steps give payors greater visibility into expenditure from the initial treatment proposal through to the final invoice.
Payments in Uzbek soum widen access to care
Some clinics in Uzbekistan accept domestic payments but cannot receive transfers from abroad. AP Companies can settle medical bills directly in Uzbek soum on behalf of international clients, making it possible to arrange treatment at facilities that would otherwise be difficult for overseas payors to use.
In AP Companies’ experience, these facilities are becoming more common and increasingly sought out for their combination of quality care and competitive pricing. Domestic payment capability gives insurers and assistance teams a wider choice of providers and allows them to consider facilities that fit the patient’s clinical needs even when cross-border payment is unavailable.
In-person medical support inside hospitals
Several major hospitals have authorised AP Companies’ local medical team to visit patients and liaise directly with treating physicians, subject to patient consent and hospital access requirements.
For a complex inpatient case, this means a member of the local medical team can visit the patient, speak directly with the treating physician and clarify how the patient is progressing. The team can also discuss the reasons for continued hospitalisation and help coordinate discharge or transfer when appropriate.
AP Companies is working to extend these permissions to more hospitals across its network. The local team also coordinates transfers between facilities, medical evacuations and repatriations, working with treating teams and transport providers on patient preparation and transfer arrangements.
Enhanced clinical assessment service launches on 1 December 2026
From 1 December 2026, AP Companies will offer enhanced clinical assessments through direct agreements with medical specialists at selected clinics in Uzbekistan.
The service is designed for complex cases that require a more detailed assessment of the patient’s condition, the proposed treatment or the need for continued hospitalisation. It brings together a review of the clinical findings and treatment plan with an assessment of the associated costs.
For insurers, the findings provide additional clinical information to support coverage and expenditure decisions. For assistance teams, they help clarify what care the patient needs and inform the next steps, including continued treatment at the current facility or a transfer where appropriate.
What the expansion means for international insurers and assistance teams
When a patient needs care in Uzbekistan, AP Companies can help identify a suitable provider, arrange direct billing where available, settle charges in local currency and review costs as treatment progresses. For more complex cases, the local team can support the patient in person at authorised hospitals, speak with treating physicians and coordinate the next stage of care.
To discuss provider access, medical cost containment or case management in Uzbekistan, contact AP Companies or speak with your AP Companies representative.
