BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 18. Sustainable development of the healthcare system is one of Azerbaijan's key state priorities, said Soltan Mammadov, a member of the country's Parliament and Health Committee, Trend reports.
Speaking at the opening of the "Healthcare Management Summit 2024" in Baku, Mammadov pointed out that the Azerbaijani parliament has given the green light to the state budget, with social protection and welfare expenses taking center stage.
"The allocation of 43 percent of the state budget to the social sector highlights the socially oriented policy of President Ilham Aliyev's administration. The augmentation of the annual budget for social protection and healthcare further illustrates that the sustainable development of the healthcare system is a fundamental objective for our state," he said.
Mammadov also highlighted that the jump in mandatory health insurance services by 21 percent this year, along with the whopping 45 percent boost in the healthcare budget for 2025, which amounts to an additional 621 million manat ($365.2 million) compared to 2021, shows that this sector is really coming into its own.
"In addition, compared to 2024, the healthcare budget for 2025 has increased by more than 7 percent, totaling an additional 133 million manat ($78.2 million). This reflects the government’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of the population, strengthening their health, and advancing healthcare in our country," he added.
The MP underscored the vital importance of legislative efforts in rolling out healthcare policies, pointing out that over 300 million manat ($176.4 million) from the healthcare budget is earmarked for state programs, which marks a 14 percent uptick.
"This shows that the government prioritizes key healthcare issues. It is encouraging that several state programs are now regularly included in the healthcare service package. As a result, other critical issues are addressed and integrated as state programs.
I am confident this trend will lead to sustainable development of healthcare services, supported by an increasing state budget. Operations such as cochlear implantation and organ transplants are now performed within the mandatory health insurance package. This is a testament to the resilience of healthcare development," Mammadov concluded.
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