Budgetary space for health in the Republic of Tajikistan: options for more public resources

ABSTRACT

The Republic of Tajikistan’s health reform agenda to achieve universal health coverage includes improved access to high-quality health care for the entire population and more efficient use of public resources. The recently adopted National Health Strategy (Strategy for the Healthcare of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, 2021–2030) follows global evidence and recommendations, and builds on expanding primary health care. To implement the strategy, Tajikistan needs to increase considerably public funding for health and allocate resources to where they will have the most effect. Currently, budget resources for primary health care are lagging behind, and are unevenly distributed across the country, resulting in unjust gaps in health care access. Consequently, there are unjustified differences in health care utilization.This report describes, analyses and compares alternative opportunities to increase budgetary space for health, in particular resources for primary health care.