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It is planned to allocate 168 billion 22 million drams to the healthcare sector for the coming year, which is 21 billion more than the allocation for 2023. 11 billion 871 million drams are planned to be allocated to the capital expenditures, 156 billion to the current expenses.

The Ministry of Health will implement 12 programmes and 49 measures. Among the amounts to be allocated, the allocation for comprehensive health insurance is also designed, which will be around 18 billion drams. The RA Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan said this at the November 6 joint sitting of the NA Standing Committees on Health Care and Financial-Credit and Budget Affairs, where the preliminary debates of the draft RA Law on the RA State Budget for 2024 continued.

The RA Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan presented the programmes and measures to be implemented in 2024. According to the Minister, compared to 2018, the money to be allocated to the sector in 2024 has doubled. “The state budget allocated to healthcare in 2024 consists of two parts. The first part is the funds directed to our state order, capital expenditures, and we already have 18 billion drams allocated, which will be directed to the start of the introduction of the insurance system in the middle of the year. On February 2, 2023, the Government approved the concept of the insurance system, which is quite extensive, but also a document fixing very clear principles, model, structure. Soon we will also have a debate of a large legislative package in the National Assembly. Work debates will also take place,” Anahit Avanesyan said.

The Minister stated that for the first time in our country, the prices for healthcare services will be calculated based on a realistic calculation of the costs of each sector included in the services. And as a result, the cost of the total package will be formed. “This is a very serious change, because over the years the price changes have been carried out very fragmented. In other words, the calculations of these three directions are already in the final stage, they are ready, and we will also present them to you during the legislative debates,” the Minister noted.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care Narek Zeynalyan added in this context that the implementation of the health insurance system is planned to start from the middle of 2024, which will continue until 2026. That is, the full implementation of the health insurance system will be implemented in 2026. It is planned to be introduced in phases. It was noted that the mid-term costs of the programme are calculated and planned.

Next, Anahit Avanesyan said that the Government’s plan is to rebuild, build or re-equip at least 50 healthcare organizations by 2026.

The construction of Martuni and Vayots Dzor medical centers will be completed in 2023. A few days ago, the Martuni Medical Center was opened, on which the state together with the World Bank spent 3.2 billion drams. A modern center with 79 beds with all equipment was built within 3 years. By the end of the year, the construction of the Vayots Dzor Medical Center will be completed, which will also be saturated with the necessary equipment.

The construction works of the National Center for Mental Health Care, the National Center for Infectious Diseases, the Sisian Medical Center will continue next year and be completed in 2025.

Touching upon the current expenses, Anahit Avanesyan mentioned that there are increases in financial resources in the sector for the implementation of a number of measures.

The MPs addressed questions and proposals to the Ministers, to which clarifications were given.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care Narek Zeynalyan inquired about the issue of 100% free medication provision for the third group of disabled persons, in response to which Anahit Avanesyan stated that the citizens of this group receive their medications completely free of charge. Responding, Narek Zeynalyan urged the Minister to strengthen control over the implementation of the programme, as there are still complaints.