DUSHANBE, May 18, Asia-Plus -- Switzerland delivered 5140 books to the Tajik State Medical University named after Abu Ali ibn Sino (TSMU) for the amount of $145''000.

The list of books comprises of over 35 titles of different medical encyclopedias, specialized atlases, as well as English language learning material.

According the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) CO in Tajikistan, the purpose of the provision of books is to complement and update the existing stock of the library and enhance the training capacities of the Tajik State Medical University, which trains over 95% of the medical doctors in the country.

In the past, the TSMU received books from Moscow based on a centralized budget. With the collapse of the Soviet Union the systematic purchase of new literature was halted. Since 1991, the TSMU has been receiving from time to time only locally produced medical literature and limited support by international organizations in Tajikistan as Open Society Institute and World Health Organization.

According to the librarian of the TMSU, Salomat Ergasheva, the existing stock of the library covers only 59% of the students, whereas the minimum coverage should be at least 80%.

The Agreement between the Swiss Cooperation Office Tajikistan and the Tajik State Medical University on provision of the books was signed mid January 2007.

Provision of books to the Tajik State Medical University is one of the six projects of the Swiss Government under the domain of "Health Care Reform in Tajikistan".