Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. I.Khalilova / During a presentation of the project to reform Azerbaijan's health system, at the Health and Reform Centre, it was reported that there are plans to form an agency on compulsory medical insurance in Azerbaijan.
The absence of compulsory medical insurance in Azerbaijan will not result in a decrease of medical service in the country. Despite the law of 'Medical insurance', which was adopted in 1995, it currently has no power.
The project envisages support to develop principles of medical insurance. The fee will be collected by the agency, and then will be allocated. A national information monitoring system is planned to be formed for regulating the project.
The Azerbaijani State Fund on Social Protection has reported that the agency on compulsory medical insurance will be established at the Cabinet of Ministers, the Finance Ministry or Health Ministry. The State Fund offers its participation in collecting necessary funds for the medical insurance budget. One of the main issues is the regulation of expenditures. The new law on medical insurance envisages free medical service. Presently, only 1% of the Azerbaijani population uses compulsory medical insurance.