DUSHANBE, May 27, 2009, Asia-Plus — In the framework of bilateral assistance to Tajikistan, a Financing Agreement valued at €1 million in support of Government reform of the health sector has been signed between the European Commission and the Government of Tajikistan, press release issued by the European Commission Delegation in Tajikistan on May 27 said.
The Support to Development of a Health Management Information System will assist the Government in producing relevant, timely and quality information for health system interventions in line with the internationally recognized methodology developed by Health Metrics Network.
According to the Financing Agreement, during two years €1,000,000 will be provided as technical assistance.
The overall objective of the program is to contribute to a more effective, modern and sustainable health care system in the Republic of Tajikistan and support the Government in alleviating the poverty in the country.
It is expected that the program will strengthen the Health Management Information System including the communicable surveillance system through supporting the Republican Centre of Health Statistics and Information, the Sanitary and Epidemiological Services and the State Statistical Committee of the Tajik Republic, focusing on three key components: health information system policy and strategy, forms and indicators and computerization and data management.
The program is part of the EU long term support to health in Tajikistan, valued at approximately €10 million to be contracted over 2010-2011. Health Management Information System is considered an important policy instrument that could also serve to define and implement the performance framework in the sector. It complements current EU funded projects such as Support to Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Support to the development of a comprehensive Health Strategy which are strengthening the building blocks towards a Sector Wide Approach and a Sector Program.
The new EU Strategy for Central Asia aims to strengthen ties between the European Union and its Central Asian partners. It has doubled European Commission assistance to the region to €750 million for 2007-2013. Tajikistan gets the main share of bilateral assistance (€66 million for 2007-2010) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants. It focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management. Projects aimed at enhancing living standards continue. Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest). The total value of EC assistance disbursed to Tajikistan since 1992 is over €500 million.
