FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN TO GET FREE MEDICAL CARE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
18 March 05
People have always had controversial opinions on free medical care. In
fact, many of us do not know in which cases free medical aid and care
is provided, thereby creating problems for ourselves and the doctors.
According to the NKR minister of health Zoya Lazarian, this year the
government provided 592 million 979 thousand drams for free inpatient
treatment (against 475 million 506 thousand drams last year) and 711
million drams for outpatient treatment. The minister of health said in
NKR the groups of people who get free medical care outnumber those in
the Republic of Armenia. According to her, until 2005 pensioners in
Armenia did not get free medical care. This year it is available for
persons above 65 whereas in NKR free medical care is provided to all
the pensioners. There are no limitations for children under 18 (in
Armenia only children under 7 receive free medical care), sole mothers
and families having many children. By the decision of the government,
free medical treatment is provided to diabetic patients, people
suffering malignant tumours, tuberculosis, mental disorders and
venereal diseases, the disabled, the veterans of the Patriotic War,
sole mothers, families of servicemen killed during the defence of NKR,
liquidators of the consequences of Chernobyl, the internees, children
under 18, persons of conscription age, army servicemen, arrested and
imprisoned persons, persons of 18-24 without parental care, pensioners
and students. Recently, the families of servicemen were also included
in this list. Z. Lazarian said this change was introduced in
accordance with the Article 33 of the law on social security of the
servicemen and the members of their families. The minister of health
added that the soldiers can get necessary medical service at army
hospitals. If the necessary service is not provided by the military
hospital, they can go to civilian hospitals having a special note
signed by the head of the military hospital. The same order works for
the members of families of soldiers.
SRBUHI VANIAN.
18-03-2005