WASHINGTON, D.C., October 24, 2023 – Today the World Bank approved funding of $57.25 million for the new Tajikistan Millati Solim (Healthy Nation) project. This project will contribute to better health for the Tajik people by improving the quality and efficiency of primary healthcare services in selected districts of the country and strengthening the national capacity to respond to public health emergencies. The project is co-financed by grant funding from the International Development Association (IDA) ($40 million), the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents ($12.5 million), and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program ($4.75 million).
“Through the last three decades of collaboration between Tajikistan and the World Bank, we continue to focus on people-centered development and have declared 2023 the "Year of Human Capital”. In this context, people’s health is one of the most important determinants of any country’s well-being and development. I am proud that the World Bank can partner with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan to make this important investment in Tajikistan’s future," said Ozan Sevimli, the World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan.
Despite significant progess over the past two decades, Tajikistan continues to lag in key health indicators such as life expectancy, child mortality and stunting, coupled with rising cases of non-communicable diseases. Ensuring access to quality and affordable primary healthcare services, especially for women, children and adolescents, in the poorest districts will help improve health outcomes and strengthen human capital. This requires substantive improvements in health infrastructure, equipment, supplies, and skills of healthcare workers. In many places, the quality of primary care is inhibited by facilities not meeting minimum standards. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that Tajikistan also requires significant investments for strengthening its capacity to adequately prevent and respond to health emergencies, and to do so at the primary healthcare level – through emergency-ready primary health care. The Millati Solim project will also support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to introduce important modernizations to the healthcare system, including by digitalizing, connecting, and improving information flows at the primary care level and introducing health financing reforms, including new ways of paying primary healthcare providers.
“The Millati Solim project will introduce structural reforms to healthcare financing and management that are critical for the sector to perform and for the country to make progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage. We expect the project to have long-lasting impacts, so that basic health services are accessible and affordable to all, including the most vulnerable, and so that Tajikistan becomes better equipped to tackle future public health emergencies,” said Mirja Sjöblom, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the Millati Solim project.
The project will benefit primary health care users in the Project districts and the country’s entire population that will benefit from improvements to the national health emergency prevention, preparedness, and response system. The beneficiaries include people of all ages, including those with or at risk of non-communicable diseases, young children, pregnant women, adolescents, elderly people, and victims of gender-based violence. Project beneficiaries also include medical and non-medical staff of healthcare facilities, who will receive training and benefit from improved working conditions through the project, which may potentially improve retention of qualified staff.
The World Bank is currently financing 26 projects in Tajikistan, totaling $1.6 billion. Since 1996, the World Bank has provided almost $2.9 billion in grants from the International Development Association (IDA), highly concessional credits, and trust funds for Tajikistan. The World Bank is committed to continuing its support as the country strives to improve lives of people and meet the aspirations of its young and growing population.
