The hospital of the Research Institute of Virology of the Ministry of Health returned to its usual regimen of operation, the Ministry of Health said.

Since March 15, when the first case of coronavirus was registered in Uzbekistan, the facility has been redesigned to treat patients with COVID-19. Due to the decrease in the incidence rate, the clinic has returned to its main activity since the beginning of November.

The facility with 200 beds provides medical services to patients with chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and other infectious diseases. In addition, the medical facility also has a polyclinic with a capacity of 250 visits per day.

The ministry added that the distribution center in Uzexpocentre and infectious diseases hospitals in Zangiata district of Tashkent province are continuing to provide assistance to patients with COVID-19. In mid-July, it was reported that 16 clinics were treating patients with coronavirus, including the clinics of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Therapy and Medical Rehabilitation, the Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, the Research Institute of Virology, the Research Institute of Epidemiology and others.

In early July, the director of the Research Institute of Virology and the chief infectious disease specialist of the Ministry of Health, Erkin Musabaev said that the re-profiling of hospitals leads to indirect casualties.

“Up to 3,000 patients with cirrhosis of the liver are treated here a year. Cirrhosis of the liver cannot be cured. If we do not carry out treatment once a quarter or once every six months, then a person lives on average 5-6 years. If we address them properly, we can extend life to 15 years. This is a good result. If the diseased has the financial resources, then he can transplant the liver at some stage, not at all stages, ”he noted.

“It turns out that the clinic has been closed for quarantine for fourth months. There are 3000 patients with cirrhosis of the liver per year, but now our specialized department was unable to admit almost 1000 patients from all over the country. About 1000 patients on average were unable to receive treatment. I may say that about 200 patients during this time died not from COVID-19, but from liver cirrhosis of the,” he added.

The July mortality rate in Uzbekistan surpassed the average rate for this month over the previous four years by 26.4%, in Tashkent - by 2.6 times, Tashkent province - by 43.8%, in Navoi province - by 51.7 %.