ArmInfo. The 2021 budget of Armenia's Ministry of Health has by now been exceeded by AMD 27bln, RA Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan stated at a discussion of the 2022 draft budget by the standing parliamentary committee on Monday.
Specifically, despite the budgeted AMD 115bln the ministry has on regular basis adjusted the expenditures amid the COVI-19. As of November 8, 2021, the expenditures have exceeded AMD 142bln - an AMD 27bln excess.
Armenia's healthcare sector is expected to get 4.7% more as compared with this year. However, amid the 7% GDP growth and 4.6% GDP deflator, the sector's expenditures in nominal terms will be reduced. A total of AMD 119,928.1mln (with the management expenses included) are to be allocated to the Ministry of Health for implementation of 12 projects against the AMD 114.5bln budgeted for 2021. However, it is not the final budget and new allocations could, if necessary, be expected.
Specifically, the 2022 budget of the primary healthcare program (2,900,000 citizens) will total AMD 27,804.5mln. A total of 3.880bln will be allocated to the purchase of medicines - an AMD 389.2mln or 10% increase.
The 2022 budget of the maternal and child health programs is AMD 18,664.9mln, with the emergency budget being AMD 5bln. A total of AMD 16,482.9mln is expected for treatment of infectious diseases, with AMD 26,960.3mln to be allocated for medical aid to socially vulnerable sections (about 700,000 beneficiaries).
HIV/AIDS prevention budget is to reach AMD 2,157.4mln, with AMD 8,276.3mln to be allocated for upgrading Armenia's healthcare system.
A total of AMD 3,927.3mln will be allocated under the EU healthcare system modernization program. According to the 2022 draft budget, the budget revenues are expected to increase by about AMD 437bln or 28.9% as compared with the 2021 budget, with an AMD 337.5bln or 18.2% increase in budget expenditures. Specifically, the budget expenditures are expected to reach AMD 2,188.4bln, with a total of AMD 1,841.9bln or 23.4% of GDP to be allocated to cover current expenses. The GDP deflator growth will reach 4.6% (against the expected 6.8% by the end 2021), with 5.2% annual inflation (against 7.8% expected by the end of 2021). The average annual inflation is expected to reach 5.6% next year against 7% this year.
