Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25
By Anvar Mammadov – Trend:
The amount of insurance premiums for compulsory health insurance (CHI) in Azerbaijan does not correspond to the cost of medical services in the country, Khayal Mammadkhanli, an insurance expert, Chairman of the Committee of Insurance Intermediaries of the Azerbaijan Insurers Association believes.
He noted that this is one of the obstacles facing the successful implementation of CHI in the country.
"The cost of medical services in the country today is known to everyone. The ordinary tests and simple medical services cost no less than 100 manats. Who can receive medical care during the year for 120 manats? The same problem is medicine, medical consultation and other items of basic package of CHI services," Mammadkhanli told Trend Sept. 24.
The expert also noted that the centralization of the whole mechanism of CHI within one structure could lead to undesirable consequences.
"As you know, insurance companies are not involved in the process of compulsory health insurance. This is also a big mistake. The involvement of companies would greatly facilitate the provision of services. Also, the fact that the whole mechanism of CHI is concentrated in the hands of one structure creates difficulties for transparent management," Mammadkhanli said.
He noted that all these facts make us think about whether this system will work throughout the country. In addition, he believes that the small size of insurance premiums can create problems for the state budget.
"I believe that the CHI system will not work in large cities. It can work in Mingachevir and Yevlakh, where the cost of medical services and salaries of doctors is lower, but it will not work in Baku or Ganja. As for the cost of the CHI package, I will repeat myself, today the cheapest health insurance package in insurance companies costs 350-400 manats. Such packages are purchased by those who constantly monitor their health. And now imagine poor people who couldn't use doctors’ services permanently. No public funds will stand such a flow of people with diseases. This can hit a heavy blow on the state budget," the expert believes.
The Director of the State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance under the Cabinet of Ministers Zaur Aliyev said earlier, the approximate amount of insurance contributions for the receipt of CHI services has been determined at the level of 120 manats.
The State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance began operating in Azerbaijan in February 2016. Since the end of 2016, the pilot project on CHI has been implemented in the country, which currently covers the city of Mingachevir, as well as Yevlakh and Agdash regions of the country.