DUSHANBE , July 31, Asia-Plus - The Basic Program on a package of guaranteed medical services is supposed to be launched in Tajikistan beginning from January 2007. 

For launching this program the Ministry of Health has selected three pilot districts in the northern province of Sughd – Asht, Ayni and Spitamen. 

According to information from the Ministry of Health, three working groups comprising representatives from the Ministry of Health visited the pilot districts on July 24-29.  

The main purpose of those visits was for the working groups to take preparatory measures and collect information necessary for the introduction of the Basic Program.  During a week the working groups collected the latest data about categories of the population subject to various privileges I accordance with the mentioned program.  

Mr. Oktam Bobokhojayev, an official with the Ministry of Health, has told Asia-Plus that at first, the program will be introduced in 15 pilot districts and then it will target all regions of the republic.  

We will recall that the basic document on the package of guaranteed medical services to the population was supposed to be launched April 2005, the introduction of document then was postponed to August of 2005.  But in August, the document was also suspended, and by government’s resolution the health ministry and other relevant organizations were ordered to improve the document and bring it into compliance with today’s requirements.