BUDGET EXPENDITURES ON HEALTHCARE IN ARMENIA INCREASE BY 2.5 TIMES IN LAST 6 YEAR

ARKA News Agency
Nov 15 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, November 15. /ARKA/. The budget expenditures on healthcare
in Armenia increased by 2.5 times in the last six years, Armenia’s
Minister of Healthcare Harutiun Kushkian said at the parliament.

According to him, annual increase in expenditures in the sphere
averages 15-20%.

The Minister pointed out that the structure of healthcare budget
changed due to new priorities in healthcare.

"In 2002 primary healthcare appropriations were 20% of the budget,
whereas in 2008 they are 41%, which is equal to in-patient treatment
expenditures," Kushkian said.

He said that under the 2008 state budget healthcare expenditures are
54.6bln Drams, which is by 24% or 10.5bln Drams more than in 2007.

"This allowed increasing salaries of healthcare employees by 10-20%,"
the Minister said.

Particularly, salaries of primary healthcare therapeutists and family
doctors are to be 77,000 Drams, particular specialists – 66,000 Drams
and nurses – 50,000 Drams.

"Despite the 20% increase as compared with 2007, salaries of hospital
nurses remain relatively low – 51,000Drams," the Minister said.

According to Kushkian, the budget policy of the government for 2008
will set preconditions for stable development in healthcare.

($1=319.78Drams).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress