In Tashkent, at the presentation of the STADA Health Report 2026 study, experts discussed the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, the risks of self-treatment, and digital health control. According to the survey, 55% of Uzbekistan residents turn to AI for health issues, 45% are willing to consider it instead of a doctor's consultation under certain conditions, but 75% still prefer an in-person visit. At the same time, 92% of respondents self-medicate at least occasionally.
Professor Gulnara Dzhambekova warned about the danger of self-discontinuation of medications for chronic diseases. For example, in asthma, an improvement in well-being does not mean that treatment can be stopped: after symptoms return, the previous regimen may not be effective enough. The expert emphasized that AI cannot replace the personal communication between a doctor and a patient, which is necessary to explain the diagnosis and agree on therapy.
Nilufar Nosirjonova, a representative of Sino AI, noted that chatbots can mistakenly agree with user decisions, including regarding antibiotic use. Reliable medical AI should clarify symptoms, rely on verified sources, and warn about dangerous signs requiring urgent help. However, no model guarantees one hundred percent accuracy. An additional problem is the limited training data in the Uzbek language, which can make responses less reliable.
The study also revealed difficulties with prevention: only 16% of respondents undergo all available preventive examinations, and another 36% undergo only some. Obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle were named as one of the main healthcare problems by 44% of respondents. Experts called for forming sustainable habits of physical activity and not relying solely on smartwatches and app indicators. Participants paid special attention to the protection of medical data and the lack of transparency regarding who accesses user information.
The general conclusion of the discussion: artificial intelligence is useful for initial understanding of symptoms, preparing for an appointment, and obtaining reference information, but diagnosis and treatment selection should remain the responsibility of a medical specialist.
