Within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China and Tajikistan have actively expanded medical cooperation and exchanges, bringing tangible benefits to the Tajik people through equipment donations, medical assistance and doctor training programs.
As part of China's "Health Silk Road" initiative and other cooperation mechanisms, China has donated 20 units of pharmaceutical production equipment to Tajikistan, filling gaps in the local pharmaceutical sector. Dozens of Tajik children with congenital heart disease have also undergone successful surgical treatment in China.
Another cooperation project featuring Chinese characteristics is operation of the China-Tajikistan Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Center. Operational since 2023, the center has integrated TCM diagnosis and treatment into the local healthcare system and have served thousands of local patients.
Among the experts practicing at the center is TCM physiotherapist Islom Sokiev, who has completed eight years of study in China through scholarship programs and is now a senior acupuncture practitioner in Tajikistan.
"People know about (the center) through word of mouth. Those who came to see me, the patients who recovered are spreading the word to their relatives and loved ones," he said.
A key outcome is a blindness prevention center in Tajikistan under China's Lifeline Express project, the country's first ophthalmology specialty medical institution, equipped entirely with advanced diagnostic devices from China.
"I have been using this diagnostic device for a year now. For example, it has been very helpful for us in calculating measurements during cataract surgery. It has many more features than the older models," said Gavkhar Khusaynova, an ophthalmologist at the center.
"This is a huge help. There is other equipment, too. It has significantly improved everything. And we are very pleased with this collaboration. It is really great," said Alexander Enikeev, head of the Second Surgical Department at the center.
The center has also become a platform for ophthalmology exchanges, offering local doctors opportunities to receive training at top-notch eye hospitals in China. Returning doctors are now sharing their experience with colleagues nationwide.
Patients said local medical services have improved markedly as a result of the bilateral cooperation.
"A few years ago, the level of comfort here was very, very low, and the line was long. Now it only takes about five minutes to go through the whole process," a patient said.
"We are grateful. We really appreciate that they are helping us with this kind of technology and equipment," another said.
"We greatly appreciate the support provided by our colleagues in the Chinese healthcare system to Tajikistan's healthcare system. For us, China is not only a strategic partner but also a true friend," Tajik Minister of Health and Social Protection Jamoliddin Abdullozoda said in praising the partnership.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The 2026 SCO Summit will be held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, from August 31 to September 1.
China-Tajikistan health cooperation within SCO framework yields tangible benefits
