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A delegation led by Zaur Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance (the Agency), paid a working visit to the Commonwealth of Australia from February 9 to 14, 2026.
The delegation included Ruslan Abdullayev, Head of the International Relations Department; Narmina Ramazanova, Head of the Medicines and Medical Devices Department; Nijat Karimov, Head of the Information Technology Department; and Orkhan Ganbarov, Head of the Cost Accounting Service in Healthcare. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation and study advanced international practices in the field of mandatory health insurance.
During the visit, the delegation held meetings with Mike Freelander, Co-Chair of the Australia–Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group and Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care, and Disability, as well as Rick Wilson, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth. During the meetings, the parties exchanged views on the prospects for developing cooperation in the field of mandatory health insurance between the two countries.
As part of the visit, the delegation met with Celia Street, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Sean Lane, Assistant Secretary of the International Strategies Branch at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. During the meeting, Zaur Aliyev provided a detailed overview of the mandatory health insurance system implemented in Azerbaijan and highlighted the importance of the visit for studying the Australian health and health insurance model. He also underscored the opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and the potential for joint projects. Celia Street shared information about the Australian health system, highly appreciated the Azerbaijani delegation’s interest in Australia’s experience, and expressed satisfaction with the prospects for continued collaboration.
As part of the visit program, the delegation attended presentations on Australia’s Medicare universal health insurance system, the organization of primary healthcare, health financing mechanisms, emergency medical care management, and recent initiatives in the field of medicines covered by insurance. The presentations also highlighted the approaches adopted by the National Health Funding Body of Australia, the Urgent Care Clinic, and the Office of the Chief Health Economist to ensure financial sustainability in the health system, the role of mandatory health insurance in the healthcare economy, and strategies for improving service quality.
Additionally, during a meeting at the Australian Digital Health Agency, the delegation reviewed the development of digital health infrastructure, the application of information technologies, and patient-oriented service models, and exchanged views on potential cooperation opportunities.
During the visit, the delegation met with Michael Pervan, Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority. At the meeting, the organization’s specialists conducted information sessions on the principles of tariff policy and the financing of health services.
At the conclusion of the visit, the delegation toured the Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney, where they were briefed on the role of the insurance system in the management of medical institutions, as well as the organization of primary healthcare, outpatient, inpatient, and emergency medical services.
The meetings held during the working visit were of great significance for expanding international experience exchange and for fostering future cooperation in the fields of mandatory health insurance and digital health.
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