Tajikistan’s Pharmaceutical Sector Remains Heavily Dependent on Imports
Despite possessing vast reserves of medicinal plants, Tajikistan’s pharmaceutical industry remains heavily reliant on imports. Experts are increasingly questioning why the sector has been reduced to a basic “buy-and-sell” model and what is hindering the use of the country’s natural resources.
Abundant Resources, Limited Output
Tajikistan is home to more than 3,500 species of medicinal plants, including licorice, mint, valerian, chamomile, motherwort, and even rare saffron. However, this natural wealth has not translated into pharmaceutical independence. In the past two years alone, Tajikistan has imported roughly $84 million worth of medicines.
Currently, 67 pharmaceutical companies are registered in the country, producing around 600 types of drugs. Still, imported pharmaceuticals dominate the market. According to industry observers, the sector has evolved into a retail-focused trade, rather than a hub for research-based production.
During the Soviet era, pharmaceuticals in Tajikistan were closely integrated with scientific institutions. Research institutes flourished, pharmacies compounded custom medications, and both training and quality control were rigorous. Following the collapse of the USSR, this infrastructure disintegrated. The responsible state committee was dissolved, and a previously regulated system was replaced by an unstructured market.
Today, training programs are often accelerated, pharmacists’ qualifications are inconsistent, and the emphasis has shifted from treatment to sales.
A Pharmacy That Heals
Amid this decline, one notable exception is found in the city of Isfara, where a phytotherapy department has been established at the local hospital. Spearheaded by pharmacist Abubakr Faiziev, the department operates out of a restored facility where locally gathered herbs are used to produce traditional infusions and decoctions. Faiziev personally collects about half of the ingredients.
“It is important to me that the pharmacy heals, not just sells,” he said.
According to Faiziev, approximately 80% of patients return for follow-up treatment, often bypassing conventional doctors due to the perceived effectiveness of herbal therapies, a sentiment echoed even among members of the local elite.
A Science in Decline
Faiziev laments the erosion of scientific ambition in the country.
“People now ask for business plans and guaranteed profits instead of pursuing knowledge. But science doesn’t work that way,” he said.
Research, he noted, has become sporadic and often relies on outdated data, with little interest from private companies in investing in innovation.
Young professionals, too, are increasingly opting for commercial routes. “They prefer to open pharmacies for fast income rather than engage in research,” he explained. “There are many pharmacists now. But we must transform quantity into quality. Without passion for the profession, one cannot become a skilled expert.”
The State’s Role and Untapped Potential
President Emomali Rahmon has repeatedly stressed the need to develop the domestic pharmaceutical industry and better utilize Tajikistan’s natural resources. Ongoing reforms include updates to medical university curricula, the opening of laboratories, and the training of technologists and quality control specialists. Yet, experts argue that without a comprehensive, systematic strategy and active engagement from the private sector, these measures are insufficient.
Faiziev advocates for the creation of a pharmaceutical technology park and the development of both the domestic and export markets. He has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health to hold training courses for regional professionals but has yet to receive a response.
“I am not claiming that herbal medicine is a cure-all,” Faiziev concluded. “But there is a vast sector where natural remedies are most effective. They are accessible, safe, and cost-efficient.”
