Why is the funding for mandatory health insurance being reduced? - EXPLANATION

In 2026, 900 million manats are planned to be allocated from the state budget of Azerbaijan to the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (CMI). This is approximately 35% less than last year.

A question arises - why has the amount decreased and what is the reason for this necessity?

As reported by ölkə.az, the Deputy Chairman of the Milli Mejlis Health Committee Rashad Mahmudov noted that the reduction in budget funds allocated to the CMI Fund is not a negative trend, but on the contrary, indicates strengthening financial sustainability of the system.

"In recent years, the mechanisms of medical insurance have significantly expanded. The fund's resources are formed not only from the budget but also from other sources. Gradually, part of the financial burden is shifting from the state to the private sector, businesses, and individuals. This is an absolutely normal process that corresponds to international practice.

The main goal here is not to reduce budget expenses, but to make the insurance system more flexible and effective. This will not lead to an additional financial burden on citizens and will not affect the volume of medical services provided. On the contrary, it's about more rational use of resources and improving the quality of medical care.

In fact, it's not about the state shifting responsibility to the population, but about improving the economy. As new jobs are created, shadow employment is reduced, and workers are legally registered, insurance contributions increase and the pension system strengthens.

The state aims to ensure that every worker becomes part of this system. As a result, contributions to the fund naturally grow, and the burden on the budget decreases.

In developed countries, medical insurance is not formed from the state budget. At the initial stage, the state performs the role of a "buffer," but over time, as the economy strengthens, financing transitions to the insurance fund itself. Therefore, the current reduction is not a "decrease," but a stage in the maturation of the system," he explained.