Comprehensive medical insurance to give impetus to investment of  health system - premier 

ArmInfo.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.

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.