Azerbaijan, Baku, May 10 /Trend M. Moezzi/
The 29 percent increase in this year's budget for Iran's Health and Medical Education Ministry won't erase its $2.2 billion (USD) budget deficit.
The boost in funding in this year's budget will be offset by the elimination of subsidies for energy carriers and inflation, a member of Iran's Majlis told the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA).
The Health Ministry was to get about $2.5 billion in funds from the government's subsidy reforms but more than $938 million of that money was given to the Roads Ministry instead.
Iranians pay 54 percent of their health costs, and that share has to drop to 30 percent as directed by the country's Fifth Five-Year Plan, said MP Mohammad Reza Rezai Koochaki. The funds from subsidy reforms were going to be used as part of this effort.
The Majlis is working to recover the Health Ministry's funds. If its efforts aren't successful, the Majlis will refer the issue to the judiciary.