Salaries of polyclinic employees to be revised

During an extraordinary session of the Standing Committee on Health Affairs of the National Assembly (NA) of the Republic of Armenia (RA), Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan informed that the salaries of polyclinic staff, particularly primary care therapists and narrow specialists, will be revised, as they will also be serving clients of the insurance system.

The Minister noted that part of the payments will be made “per capita of the population,” and the other part for specific services rendered. The amount of the salary will depend on the number of citizens served. Furthermore, the polyclinic manager will decide, for example, what share of the fee paid for sonography will be allocated to the doctor.

When asked by Armenuhi Kyureghyan what would happen to citizens who refuse universal mandatory health insurance, the Minister responded that there would be no penalties or fines in the first year, and the insurance package would be frozen until the citizen makes the payments.

Anahit Avanesyan also detailed that the law will enter into force the day after signing, meaning starting in December. The first month for insurance premium payments will be January. This means that a citizen can make the payment for the December calculation basis by January 20. That is, the 300 AMD deductions will be made from the December salary. The insurance packages will be activated starting January 1.

According to the Minister, the proposals of the “Hayastan” (Armenia) faction regarding individuals aged 63–65 and orphaned students up to 23 years old will not be accepted this year, but they will be considered during the 2027 budget discussions.

The revised draft of the universal mandatory health insurance system was included in the agenda of the NA plenary sessions with a positive conclusion; there were no votes against it in the committee, with only Armenuhi Kyureghyan abstaining.

Satenik Avetisyan