Medical conditions exempting drivers from wearing seat belts approved

In Uzbekistan, certain individuals will be allowed not to wear seat belts while traveling in vehicles. The decision follows the approval, on January 14, of an order by the Minister of Health titled “On Approving the List of Diseases That Prevent the Use of Seat Belts.”

Under the government resolution “On Approving Traffic Rules,” citizens are permitted not to use seat belts if they have medical conditions or conditions determined by the Ministry of Health and possess a medical certificate confirming the existence of such conditions.

The approved list of diseases includes:

1.  Fractures of the clavicle and sternum;
2.  Fractures of the shoulder girdle;
3.  Rib fractures;
4.  Surgeries performed due to dislocation of the left clavicle;
5.  Nonunion fractures of the left clavicle;
6.  Compression fractures of the spine;
7.  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (stage IV);
8.  Bronchial asthma (stage IV);
9.  Interstitial lung diseases (including fibrosis);
10.  Surgical removal of part or all of a lung (lobectomy or pneumonectomy);
11.  Chronic heart failure at stage III and the decompensation stage;
12.  Severe cardiovascular diseases, including previous heart attacks and ischemic conditions;
13.  Morbid obesity (body mass index of 40 or higher);
14.  Short stature (dwarfism) below 150 centimeters;
15.  Neurological diseases that restrict arm or shoulder movement;
16.  Severe forms of allergic or dermatological diseases located in the chest area, including eczema and psoriasis;
17.  Presence of internal or external implants in the clavicle, scapula, shoulder, sternum, or ribs;
18.  Open surgical procedures performed in the chest and abdominal cavities;
19.  Presence of stomas;
20.  Large masses or tumors in the chest area.

An electronic medical certificate with a QR code (matrix barcode) confirming these conditions will be issued free of charge through the “Electronic Healthcare” information system. The certificate will be provided by the primary healthcare institution to which the patient is attached or by the state medical institution where the patient received treatment, in the form specified in the annex to the list.

The medical certificate may also be issued by the patient’s primary healthcare institution based on a relevant medical conclusion from a non-governmental medical organization. The certificate is issued for a period of one year, except for cases specified in the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the explanatory note.

Depending on the diagnosis, the certificate may be issued for specified periods of two months, four months, six months, or one year. For certain listed diseases, the medical certificate may be issued on a permanent basis.

The order will enter into force from the date of its official publication.