DUSHANBE, April 30, Asia-Plus -- In his April 30 address to parliament, President Rahmon called for speeding up health reforms aimed at improving access of population to medical services, projecting and implementing basic program of guaranteed primary medical-sanitary services and stage-by-stage improvement of healthcare standards.  

According to him, 80 investment projects have been implemented in the health sector since last year.  

Rahmon pointed to the necessity of projecting new methods of financing the health sector.  “The government has to draft laws on family medicine, medical insurance and voluntary medical insurance,” the president said.  

President Rahmon noted that enhancement of the education sector is one of priorities of the country’s social policy. 

He harshly criticized a low level of education at secondary schools, noting that many senior pupils at Tajik schools do not know even elementary things.       

            According to him, textbooks and other education supplies should brought into compliance with requirements of modern national state.   

            “The implementation of the school computerization program designed for 2003-2007 is nearing completion and the Ministry of Education ought to project the second phase of this program for 2008-2015,” the president said, noting that the 2007 budget earmarks 506 million somonis for enhancement of the education sector.   “The budget, in particular, provided 52 million somonis for publication of books and construction of schools,” Rahmon said. 

According to him, 84 grammar schools, 50 lyceums and nine private schools currently function in Tajikistan.  “This year, the construction of the republican lyceum for talented children has started in Dushanbe and presidential boarding-school for orphan children in Qurghon Teppa,” the president said, pointing the necessity of training of skilled personnel, first of all, inside the country.