ArmInfo.A new package of state-financed medical services will be introduced in Armenia. The relevant decision was taken on January 31 at a government meeting.
According to the Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia Arsen Torosyan, the submitted document is aimed at expanding the list of free medical care for a certain category of socially unprotected groups of society. The matter in particular, concerns socially disadvantaged families with a 30-point assessment system. In addition, participants of the Great Patriotic War and persons equal to them, repressed, participants of the Chernobyl accident, persons who have been subjected to trafficking, detainees and arrested persons will also be able to use free medical services. For these categories of citizens will be the same package of medical services, which applies to military personnel and their families. This, in particular, is about state financing of 18 types of operations - operations on the heart, brain, vision, lithotripsy (crushing of kidney stones), as well as during examinations. Moreover, the price for conducting operations and surveys is as close as possible to the market, which will allow avoiding corruption risks and illegal fees. 1.4 billion drams will be additionally allocated from the state budget for the solution of the task. Thus, as the Minister noted, the total cost of the program will be 3 billion drams.
In addition, it is also envisaged to expand the list of persons who received the right to free dental care. Persons with disabilities of the 1st group, children under 7 years old, children under 18 years of age from socially disadvantaged groups, as well as pre-conscripts and conscripts are included in this category of beneficiaries. Previously, this category of citizens paid part of the costs associated with dental treatment, the rest was paid by the state. Now all expenses will be covered by the state budget. 500 million drams will be sent from the treasury for these purposes. From February 1, continued Arsen Torosyan, the application of a new program related to the free treatment of patients after a brain attack will begin. Additional 1-4 million drams will be allocated for this purpose. In total, as the Minister stressed, about 200 thousand people will be involved in the program. As expected, after a government decision is taken, the number of people who applied for free medical care will increase by 4 thousand visits.