21 May 2019 14:34

EU representatives got acquainted with the results of twinning project in Mingachevir city

Within the framework of the European Union (EU) Days, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership program of the EU, representatives of the union visited Mingachevir City Central Hospital on May 21, 2019. The EU representatives familiarised themselves with the activities of the medical institution where mandatory health insurance (MHI) was applied as a pilot project and the results of the twinning project "Support to implementation of the mandatory health insurance system in Azerbaijan" funded by the EU.

Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas, representative of the State Agency for Mandatory Health Insurance Nurlan Mammadov, Director of Mingachevir City Central Hospital Konul Alakbarov, representatives of twinning project and international experts attended the event.

Speaking at the event, Kestutis Yankauskas noted that healthcare is a very important area for investing in human capital development. "In this regard, pilot project on introduction of mandatory health insurance in Azerbaijan is being implemented. The EU provides expert support in the frame of the twinning project. The experts from France, Lithuania and Estonia are presenting various MHI models for the pilot areas so that Azerbaijan can choose the most suitable. The results of the twinning project showed that MHI application should be extended to all citizens of Azerbaijan".

The Agency's representative Nurlan Mammadov said that the recommendations and proposals related to the development of the projection of nationwide application and financing model of MHI in Azerbaijan, improvement of the benefits package, contracting with healthcare providers and the development of information technologies played a major role in the pilot project implementation.

Director of Mingachevir City Central Hospital Konul Alakbarov gave information about the activities of the medical institution. He said that after the MHI introduction, the material-technical base of the medical institution has been improved and personnel potential was strengthened.

Representative of "Expertise France" Andrei Tretyak spoke about the successful implementation of the project, the role of MHI in protecting the health of the population. He said the application of MHI will contribute to Azerbaijan's economic growth.

Resident adviser of the twinning project, Gediminas Cerniauskas pointed out that positive results were achieved in 2017-2018 in the pilot areas where MHI was applied, the wages of healthcare workers have increased and the financial burden of the population related to surgical operations has dropped significantly.

The twinning project on ‘Support to the implementation of mandatory health insurance system in Azerbaijan’ funded by the European Union has been implemented by State Agency for Mandatory Health Insurance (SAMHI) together with the Delegation for European and International Affairs of the French ministries responsible for social affairs and social protection bodies of Lithuania since August 2017.