A universal health insurance system is suggested to be introduced in Armenia step by step until 2027, Armenian health minister Anahit Avanesyan said during the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

According to the press service of the Armenian government, Anahit Avanesyan presented the five-year strategy of the sphere development, and in this context, the concept of universal health insurance. She noted that the main goal of the strategy is to improve people's health by providing quality and affordable services.

The health insurance system, which is envisaged for the whole Armenian population, will be based on these goals and will have two components - compulsory and voluntary.  Particularly, it is planned to introduce it stage by stage, until 2027, and include all healthcare services except for dentistry and plastic surgery.

It is supposed to create such an insurance infrastructure that would make it possible to provide healthcare services of the same quality and accessibility for all groups of beneficiaries, regardless of their social status.  

There was an exchange of opinions on the subject, there were voiced questions about the medical and infrastructural criteria of the insurance system, financial evaluation, management mechanisms, the degree of state involvement, the amount of the insurance premium, risks.

Prime Minister instructed to continue discussions in the format of a working group, with the participation of representatives of the government and the National Assembly, and to finalize the draft.