Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, a consultation was held in Jermuk, during which the works and further steps towards the introduction of comprehensive health insurance were discussed.
At the beginning of the consultation, the Prime Minister noted. “Today we gathered to discuss the comprehensive health insurance program. Our goal is to make decisions based on the results of today’s discussion and start the introduction of the system according to the established schedule.”
Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan noted that taking into account the measures approved by the Government’s concept of introduction of comprehensive health insurance, it is planned to implement the introduction of comprehensive health insurance in phases. According to the minister, it implies a gradual transition to a new and advanced health care financing model, which will balance the financial capabilities of the state budget and insurance premium payers with the health care expenses of the population, significantly increasing the financial protection of the insured when receiving health care services, will reduce the number of people who lost their savings due to healthcare expenses.
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The implementation phase of the system is planned to begin after the adoption of the law and by-law packages. The insurance of population groups fully subsidized by the state will be implemented by the funds to be newly established.
During the consultation, reference was made to the list of beneficiaries included in the system in the first and subsequent stages, the assessment and management of possible risks of the system’s implementation, and the macroeconomic impact. As part of the exchange of ideas, a number of recommendations and observations were presented.
Prime Minister Pashinyan expressed belief that the introduction of the system will contribute not only to the early detection of health problems of the population and the provision of timely necessary medical care, but will also give a new impetus to the attraction of new investments in the healthcare sector, taking into account the possible increase of flows to medical centers after the introduction of the system and other factors.
According to the Prime Minister, a large branch of the economy will be opened with the introduction of the health insurance system. “In my opinion, this reform will inevitably lead to the development and increase of competitiveness of our health care system, and the trends of inflow of health tourism that are observed will continue. We should additionally promote health tourism, because in my opinion, this can bring benefits at least in the fiscal sector, here we can have additional budget revenues,” said Nikol Pashinyan.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to ensure the continuity of reforms in the healthcare sector, the consistent improvement of the services provided, as well as the need to eliminate the circulation of cash in the system.
Prime Minister Pashinyan instructed those in charge to improve the program in a short period of time taking into account the recommendations and ideas presented, on which the discussions will continue.
INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
