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Tajikistan International Health Insurance / Healthcare System
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 Tajikistan, or
as it’s officially known as the Republic of Tajikistan, is a
landlocked mountainous country situated in Central Asia. To the
south Tajikistan shares its borders with Afghanistan, to the west
Uzbekistan, to the north Kyrgyzstan, and to the east the People’s
Republic of China. Tajikistan is separated from Pakistan’s Chitral
and Gilgit-Baltistan regions by the Wakhan Corridor. Tajikistan’s
capital city is Dushanbe, and the official language is Tajik;
however, the language of inter-ethnic communication is Russian.
The local currency is the Somoni (TJS) and the country has a
population of 7.99 million, dispersed over a land mass of 143,100
square kilometres.
Tajikistan gained independence from the Soviet Union on September
9th 1991. After independence the country was ravaged by a war
which last for five years (1992-1997). Since the end of the war
governance is in the form of a democracy with an elected President
and members of Parliament, however, the current system is
predominantly oriented towards a single political party. The
People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan consistently maintains a
majority in Parliament.
According to 2010 estimates, the country’s Gross Domestic Product
was US$14.74 billion, with a per-capita income of US$2,000. The
economy experienced a real growth rate of 6.5 percent from 2009 –
2010, representing significant growth. The agricultural sector
accounted for 19.2 percent of GDP, while industry and services
accounted for 22.6 percent and 58.1 respectively. The Tajik labour
consists of 2.1 million people, 49.8 percent of whom are engaged
in the agriculture sector, 12.8 percent in industry, and 37.4
percent in services according to a 2009 report. That same year an
estimated 53 percent of all Tajiks lived below the international
poverty line of US$1.25 (INT).
Tajikistanis are among the lowest income earning nationals from
the former Soviet Union. Due to high unemployment in Tajikistan
many citizens travel abroad, mainly Russia, to find gainful
employment. Over a million of those that emigrate support family
members in Tajikistan through remittances. Less than 7 percent of
the country’s mountainous land is arable. Industry relies on large
aluminium plants, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete
factories. The economy remains weakened due to poor infrastructure
reforms, corruption, weak governance, power shortages, and debt
burdens.
The Ministry of Health has over all responsibility for the health
care system of Tajikistan; however, the ministry has no control
over the health budget. The 1997 Law on Health Protection outlines
that the duties of the ministry are the development of health care
policy. implementation of national medical programmes,
coordination of the health care system, direct management of
republican level institutions, scientific research institutes and
educational institutions for health professionals, in addition to
the formulation of policies pertaining to pharmaceuticals.
Government contribution to health care in 2009 was 5.3 percent of
GDP, giving a total per capita expenditure of $105.
Health care services within Tajikistan are divided into four
administrative levels: national (republican), regional (oblast),
district (rayon) and village. The ministry of health is
responsible for national-level institutions. In rural areas,
primary care is provided by nursing posts, rural physician
clinics, and rural hospitals. Secondary care and primary care are
delivered in urban areas by polyclinics. Specialized care is
provided by regional hospitals (oblast or city), while national
hospitals deal with more complex cases involving extended
treatment. The health care system is centred on hospitals;
favouring treatment at the larger central hospitals rather than at
the community level. The number of health care staff in Tajikistan
in 1998 was 47,448. This consisted of 11,771 physicians, 34,452
nurses, 758 pharmacists. Numbers have fallen in recent years due
to large numbers of qualified medical professionals emigrating
overseas.
Medical facilities within Tajikistan are best described as “poor”,
with shortages of even the most basic medical supplies prevalent
throughout the country. Before travel to Tajikistan one should
ensure that all routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Travelers
should consult with a medical travel professional at least eight
weeks before departure. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has
reported and verified an outbreak of Polio Type 1 within
Tajikistan recently and is working with the government on an
immunisation program targeting children under the age of six years
old. There is also a risk of contracting tuberculosis, typhoid,
diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tetanus, typhoid and
cholera while in the country. It is not advised to drink tap water
during your stay. It is estimated that 8,900 adults aged 15 or
over are infected with the HIV.
The estimated birth rate according to 2011 figures was set at
26.29 births per 1,000 people, giving a population growth rate of
1.846 percent. The infant mortality rate was set at 38.54 deaths
per 1,000 live births, with the total life expectance of 62.97
years old for males and 69.25 years for females. The total
fertility rate was 2.89 children born per woman. The death rate
was set at 6.6 deaths per 1,000 people. The net migration rate was
set at -1.24 per 1,000 persons. It is estimated that 26 percent of
the total population live in urban areas giving a rate of
urbanization of 2.2 percent.
There is a high level of threat from terrorises in Tajikistan. On
March 8 2011 there was an explosion in Dushanbe that injured one
person, while on January 21 three abandoned vehicles packed with
explosive devices were found outside law enforcement agencies in
Sughd province. There have been numerous other violent incidents
throughout Tajikistan in recent years, therefore it is advisable
that you check with your country’s foreign office or Embassy for
travel advice before departure. There is a high threat of being
kidnapped while in Tajikistan.
Along the border with Afghanistan there continues to be armed
incidents between drug traffickers and border security. Petty
crime against foreigners in Dushanbe is common but otherwise the
city is relatively safe. Crime directed at foreigners throughout
the country is not common. Single women, in rural areas may
attract unwanted attention or harassment during daylight hours,
walking alone at night should be avoided.
All travel to the Kamarob Gorge, in the Rasht region, is not
recommended due to continuing security operations. A Tajik
military vehicle was ambushed in Kamarob Gorge resulting in at
least 23 deaths which has resulted in heightened security
operations. Off road travel is ill advised in the Afghan, Uzbek
and Kygyz border regions due to landmines. There are also active
landmines in the Tavildara region of central Tajikistan.
Road conditions in Tajikistan are poor and badly maintained; some
roads are only accessible by 4-wheel drive. Due to avalanches and
landside road conditions can deteriorate rapidly with many
interior roads only open during summer months. A tunnel connecting
the north to Dushanbe has recently been opened which is dangerous
in winter months due to ice and avalanches. The driving standard
of locals is basic. It is recommended that when travelling in
rural areas you carry a satellite phone.
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Tajikistan International Health Insurance |
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Globalsurance can assist you further by providing free
professional advice on health care services available to you for
the duration of your stay in Tajikistan. International Health Insurance polices
can be tailored to suit all budgets and cover a variety of
activities. To hear more about our current international health
insurance offers, call us today.
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