Pakistani medical students as a bridge between two countries
First Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan, Salomatdin Jabbor Yusufi, has praised Pakistani medical students for playing a vital role in strengthening cooperation in the health sector and deepening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
During an interactive session with an eight-member Pakistani media delegation, he noted that universities such as Avicenna Tajik State Medical University (ATSMU) in Dushanbe currently host around 450 Pakistani students. These students, he said, are benefiting from modern teaching and research facilities that meet international standards.
Officials from both sides are working to formalise academic and faculty exchanges through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which would allow regular student exchanges, joint training programmes and shared research projects in key medical disciplines.
Tajikistan positions itself as a regional hub for medical education
Yusufi said Tajikistan aims to become a regional hub for affordable, high-quality medical education by attracting more students from Pakistan and other neighbouring countries. He highlighted that the country currently has 36 medical colleges, including 20 government and 16 private institutions equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
These institutions are producing doctors and physicians trained to international standards, supported by modern laboratories, clinical training centres and experienced faculty. The rapid growth of the private medical sector, he added, has created fresh opportunities for international collaboration.
The deputy minister encouraged Pakistani families to consider Tajikistan as a strong option for students seeking quality MBBS and related programmes abroad, especially as competition and costs continue to rise in other traditional destinations.
New avenues for joint ventures, IT and insurance cooperation
Looking beyond education alone, Yusufi outlined a wide range of sectors where Pakistan and Tajikistan can expand cooperation. Key areas include clinical services, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, health information technology, telemedicine, insurance and public health initiatives.
He invited Pakistan’s private sector to establish clinics, hospitals and joint ventures in partnership with local stakeholders in Tajikistan. Pakistani healthcare groups, he suggested, could bring their experience in hospital management, diagnostics and telehealth solutions to support Tajikistan’s growing health system.
The deputy minister also called on Pakistan’s IT and health-tech firms to collaborate on digital health platforms, electronic medical records, telemedicine networks and data-driven public health tools. Such solutions can help reach remote communities, improve efficiency and support better disease monitoring.
On the financial side, he encouraged Pakistan’s insurance sector to work with Tajik partners to strengthen health insurance frameworks, design new products and support more sustainable healthcare financing models.
Free treatment, universal insurance and two academic sessions
Yusufi explained that medical treatment in Tajikistan is free for citizens, supported by comprehensive insurance coverage. This approach, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to universal access to healthcare and offers a strong base for expanding medical tourism and international partnerships.
He invited Pakistani insurers and health management organisations to help further strengthen local systems, introduce best practices and design products that can improve service delivery and financial sustainability.
Dr Muhammad Abbas Mahar, CEO of MBBS Abroad Consultancy Pvt Ltd and exclusive admission partner for international students at ATSMU, noted that the Government of Tajikistan has allowed universities to offer two academic sessions per year for medical students. This policy will enable international students to save time, avoid long waiting periods and complete their studies more quickly.
For Pakistani students, the combination of free healthcare, modern facilities and flexible academic intakes makes Tajikistan an increasingly attractive destination for medical education.
Medical tourism and future cooperation agenda for 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, both sides plan to expand opportunities in medical education exchanges, medical tourism and joint ventures. Yusufi said recent high-level meetings and discussions in 2025 have already advanced MoUs in medical education, pharmaceuticals and broader health frameworks through intergovernmental commissions.
He urged Pakistani media representatives to raise awareness about Tajikistan’s strengths in medical education and healthcare, and to highlight emerging prospects in medical tourism. Affordable treatment, trained doctors and strong insurance coverage, he argued, give Tajikistan a compelling value proposition for patients from the wider region.
Dr Abbas Mahar echoed these views, saying that medical tourism has the potential to transform bilateral relations, boost both economies and create new trade opportunities in services. As Pakistan’s youth increasingly look abroad for medical education and specialised treatments, institutions like ATSMU are positioning Tajikistan as a hub for world-class training and care.
With focused work on joint ventures, IT solutions, insurance partnerships and academic exchanges, Pakistan and Tajikistan now have a chance to build a long-term, multi-layered health and education partnership that benefits students, patients and businesses on both sides.
