DUSHANBE, August 1, 2016, Asia-Plus -- Many households in Tajikistan reportedly have to reduce healthcare expenses to pay for other needs.

The World Bank Poverty team rolled out the Listening to Tajikistan survey ( L2TJK ) in May 2015 to monitor the impact of emerging trends throughout the country at high frequency.  The survey rapidly clarifies the severity of the economic downturn, the evolution of vulnerabilities, and household responses to risk and deprivation over time. The survey enables a focus on poorer and more vulnerable households, and generates evidence for targeted policy-making.

The fieldwork for L2TJK that commenced in May 2015, is currently ongoing, and is funded through June 2016.  The responses are collected over the phone in a panel design.  The 800-household sample was drawn from a nationally representative face-to-face survey of 3000 households conducted in the spring of 2015.

According to the survey, the share of households reporting that they were able to pay for enough food held steady at about somewhat to about 62 percent of households.  The share of households reporting having reducing expenditure on food to pay for other needs also held steady in May, at about 55 percent.

The share of households selling assets to pay for basic needs rose after October 2015, but has since remained relatively stable at around 12 percent, the survey says.

An average of about 40 percent of households reportedly reduced healthcare expenses to pay for other needs since January, 2016.

As the poorest country in Central Asia, Tajikistan is particularly vulnerable to shocks.  From the current economic downturn in the Russian Federation, to seasonal electricity, water, and heating shortages, the country faces substantial risks to livelihoods and wellbeing.  Some of these risks could potentially derail the extensive improvements seen for the poor and vulnerable over the past decade.