29 March 2021 15:49

Preparatory works continue for the implementation of mandatory health insurance in Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron

From April 1, 2021, the population with an official registration in Baku and Sumgayit cities and Absheron district will use 2550 medical services included in the Benefit Package of mandatory health insurance. For this purpose, preparatory works continue in the public health facilities that will operate under the mandatory health insurance scheme in these areas. 

According to Azer Ismayilov, a member of the working group for preparatory works for mandatory health insurance in the public health facilities supervised by the Administration of the Regional Medical Divisions, and director of the Yevlakh District Central Hospital, improvements are being carried out in medical facilities for the introduction of mandatory health insurance to improve the financial capacity of the health system. “In accordance with international rules, outpatient services will be provided in polyclinics. For this purpose, the staff of inpatient departments of hospitals, providing outpatient and polyclinic services, are being transferred to polyclinics. This will help to improve the quality of medical services provided to the population.

Mr. Ismayilov stated, that to improve the quality of emergency and urgent medical care under the control of the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance, Emergency Medical Care divisions were being established on the basis of admission departments of hospitals and a "triage" system was organized to group patients according to the degree of severity of their condition.

It should be noted that work is being carried out to build the information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, supply computer hardware and provide Internet access for health facilities operating in the abovementioned areas.

A database of mandatory health insurance and the relevant software is being developed. Employees of admission and registration departments are being trained on how to use the software that will ensure complete control of health facilities. The software allows online registration of citizens applying to hospitals, entering information into the system about the departments that the patient is applying for, the doctors providing medical care to the patient, the prescribed medical examination and treatment (outpatient and inpatient). The software also helps citizens to obtain information about diagnoses and the results of laboratory tests.

In addition, it should be stated, that from April 1, except for emergency and urgent medical care, citizens should first consult a family doctor for health problems. Primary health care facilities include a polyclinic, a family health center and a rural doctor's office. In these facilities citizens fill in an application form and choose a family doctor. After choosing a family doctor, the citizen is then referred to a health facility.

If there is a need for specialized medical care after examination and treatment by a family doctor, the family doctor will refer the patient to a specialized doctor. A citizen who is referred and applies to a medical facility can benefit from the Benefit Package of mandatory health insurance.