BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan held a meeting dedicated to anti-tuberculosis measures, Trend reports.
The session, chaired by Health Minister Teymur Musayev, included notable participants such as Portfolio Manager at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Olga Avdeyeva, chairman of the board of the State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance Zaur Aliyev, the executive director of the Association for the Management of Medical Territorial Units (TƏBİB) Vugar Gurbanov, the deputy head of the Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice Iftikhar Gurbanov, and other heads of subordinate institutions of the Ministry of Health and TƏBİB.
Minister Musayev emphasized that targeted healthcare reforms under President of the Republic of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev have ushered in a new phase in the health sector.
"Successful healthcare reform is based on three key principles: human capital development, the digitalization of healthcare as a fundamental driver of change, and the new economy of the healthcare system. Strengthening the healthcare system also includes strengthening measures to combat tuberculosis," he stated.
According to the minister, since 2012, the Azerbaijani government has begun procuring drugs for non-resistant tuberculosis and fully covering relevant costs through state programs.
Additionally, a new mandatory health insurance financing mechanism has been introduced since 2021.
"Despite the successes achieved in this area, there is a need to develop a long-term strategy and roadmap for the Tuberculosis Action Plan. Combating tuberculosis is a global challenge. Only by collaborating and sharing knowledge can we achieve positive results," the minister noted.
Olga Avdeeva and mission members acknowledged that since 2005, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has been actively involved in financing tuberculosis control activities in Azerbaijan.
Stressing the shared goal of eradicating tuberculosis by 2030, the mission representatives positively assessed Azerbaijan's efforts to achieve this goal and combat tuberculosis.
Chairman of the State Agency for Mandatory Health Insurance Zaur Aliyev and Executive Director of TƏBİB Vugar Gurbanov highlighted the construction of specialized medical facilities for tuberculosis treatment, employing modern approaches in patient care.
Irada Akhundova, Director of the Research Institute of Lung Diseases of the Ministry of Health, made an extensive report at the meeting.
Akhundova reported that within the framework of the National Tuberculosis Control Program of the Ministry of Health, positive changes have been observed in the dynamics of morbidity, as well as in the reduction of mortality from tuberculosis over the past 10 years.
The meeting concluded with productive discussions on further strategies for tackling tuberculosis in Azerbaijan.
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