YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. Armenia should eventually adopt compulsory medical insurance, presidential candidate, current president Serzh Sargsyan said.

“It is a state policy meaning that we, after all, should come to compulsory medical insurance, as it is the surefire way to do it and we have no alternative”, Sargsyan said at his meeting with voters in Malatia-Sebastia administrative district.

Before changing over to compulsory health insurance, some improvements should be made in medical institutions.

Sargsyan stressed that social insurance funds should be used in an efficient manner, and insurance policies should help people solve their health problems when required.

The authorities plan to extend the list of social package beneficiaries before the switchover to mandatory insurance, Sargsyan said adding that the staff of the National Academy of Sciences has been included on the list this year.

The president mentioned that within four or five months the package will be valid also in pharmacies of Armenia for getting a 20-30% discount from the market price.

The social package was introduced for civil and public servants in culture, education and social security fields in Armenia in January 2012. Under the package, each employee is entitled to an annual of 132,000 drams. The package does not cover the reserve staff, employees with up to six months’ length of service, staffs working less than part-time and high ranking officials in technical support.

The aim of the social package is to increase work efficiency, reduce outflow of staff and help employees meet their social needs. A total of 18bln drams are earmarked for the package under the budget. ($1=405.79drams).–0--