DUSHANBE , February 27, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan has postponed introduction of a package of paid medical services again; this time till January 2007.

We will recall that the Tajik government has considered a basic document on providing paid medical services and sent it to the health ministry for regulating legal aspects.  As it had been reported earlier, the paid medical services were supposed to come into effect already in March this year. 

Oktam Bobokhojayev, head of the department for organization of medical services within the Health Ministry, has told Asia-Plus that this time, postponement is connected with new amendments made to the document by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. 

According to him, the revised version of package of paid medical services provides for extending a category of privileged persons through including to it persons, whose monthly income is equal to or less than the monthly minimum wage in the republic, an elderly people above 70 who don’t have relatives to support them.  Besides, for the purpose of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), children under five and pregnant women have already been included among privileged categories.  

With regard to increase in number of privileged categories, the Ministry of Finance is to find additional funds and the Ministry of Health is to be engaged in carrying out preparatory works.  

“The document may possibly take effect in January 2007,” Mr. Bobokhojayev said.