Country to switch to mandatory medical insurance starting next year
By Amina Nazarli
Deputy Health Minister Elsever Agayev said that the country has implemented successful steps over the past years in health sphere regarding the material-technical base and staff training.
Agayev, addressing a meeting of PACE Committee on Social
Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development held at the Azerbaijani
Parliament on June 2, noted that more than 600 medical institutions
were reconstructed over the past 10 years.
“Today, Azerbaijan’s healthcare system is in transition period.
Starting this year we moved to insurance system. This year we
started a pilot project on mandatory medical insurance in two
regions of the country. In 2018 the pilot project will cover the
whole country.
I do not know any country, which is fully satisfied with the healthcare system. Even the most developed country has some problems in healthcare. We are trying to improve the health care system as well as its material and technical base,” he said.
The compulsory insurance is an integral part of health care reform, which will increase the financial capacity of the health system. The State Agency for Compulsory Health Care Insurance, established this February, aims to ensure access to health services for all citizens.
Including some 1,800 medical services, the compulsory medical insurance is a new and innovative direction in the social policy of the Azerbaijan. Among the services covered by the insurance, are inspection, treatment, diagnostic procedures, surgical procedures, and other services.
The implementation of pilot projects in two regions of the republic [Yevlakh and Mingechevir] began this February. The mandatory insurance program enables citizens to receive free, high-quality medical care and eliminate unofficial payments.
The deputy minister further said that the country adopted 12 additional state programs on health system.
Agayev added that the country sees achievements in decreasing maternal and child mortality.
Azerbaijan continues to record a fall in the maternal mortality rate, as the State Statistics Committee reported some 24 cases of maternal mortality in the country in 2015. In 2014, the number of cases was 25, while the greatest rate of maternal mortality in recent years was recorded in 2011 (27).
The country also recorded a dramatic and accelerating progress in reducing mortality among children. The child mortality rate, especially among infants, has decreased threefold in Azerbaijan over the past 24 years, according to Health Ministry.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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