22 November 2023 16:00

The State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance conducts training for media representatives

On November 22, the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance (the Agency) organized a training session for representatives from the media, international bodies, and non-governmental organizations. The focus of the training was "Raising Awareness in the Field of Mandatory Health Insurance."

The objective of the training was to enlighten journalists covering the mandatory health insurance system, civil society members engaged in awareness initiatives, and international organizations collaborating with the Agency. The aim was to enhance effective cooperation with target audiences and effectively communicate the initiatives undertaken in this field to the public through the media.

During the event's opening, Aynura Ahmadova, Head of the Marketing and Public Relations Department of the Agency, emphasized the crucial role of the media in delivering timely and accurate information about mandatory health insurance to the public. Discussing innovations in insurance, Ahmadova mentioned upcoming changes to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Health Insurance."

To ensure interactive engagement, participants were assigned group practical tasks, followed by presentations from Agency representatives. In the first part, Arif Akbarov, Samad Samadov, Parvin Salahova, Fuad Bayramov, and Esmira Hasanova provided detailed information on the proper implementation of mandatory health insurance, referral issuance procedures, covered medical services, organ transplantations within the Benefit Package, and remuneration for healthcare workers.

The second part featured speeches by Orkhan Ganbarov, Head of the Pricing Service for Medical Care at the Agency; Laura Guliyeva, Head of the Health Communication Department at the Center for Public Health and Reforms of the Ministry of Health; Zamira Adilova, Head of the Public Relations and Communication Department at the Administration of Regional Medical Divisions (TABIB); and Fanara Bunyadzada, the World Health Organization's representative in Azerbaijan. The discussions covered topics such as pricing for medical services, healthcare awareness initiatives, communication organization in healthcare facilities, and effective partnerships in health communication.

Zaur Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of the Agency, delivered the closing speech and presented certificates to the participants. Aliyev emphasized the Agency's longstanding collaboration with the media since its inception, stating, "One of the Agency's goals is to enhance the accessibility of medical services for citizens and reduce healthcare costs. Achieving these objectives requires educating the population, and journalists bear a significant responsibility in this regard. Although we employ various communication channels in educational efforts, journalists play a crucial role in this field."