DUSHANBE, July 20, Asia-Plus -- Minister of Health Nusratullo Fayzulloyev told a news conference in Dushanbe on July 19 that funds provided by the government are not enough for providing medial aid free of charge.  

“For each patient, 0.48 Somonis is provided for medicines and 0.52 Somonis for nutrition per day,” said the minister, “Under such conditions a doctor has to prepare a list of medicines, which a patient  should purchase by himself.”  

 We will recall that this year’s national budget has stipulated expenditure of some 106.5 million Somonis on the country’s health sector, which is 22 percent more than last year.  

On the personnel policy, the minister said that at present they were considering the possibility of opening a branch of Tajik State Medical University in the Khatlon province.  At present, 1,120 students from the southern are studying at Tajik State Medical University, while a total number of the University’s students is 4,500.  

The minister also noted that at present Tajikistan had 3,500 doctor’s vacancies and almost the same number of middle medical personnel’s vacancies.