BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 17. New state
programs for the treatment and management of rare diseases,
including autism, should be developed, while existing state
programs should be incorporated into the service package under
Azerbaijan’s compulsory health insurance system, an MP and member
of the Parliament's Health Committee, Soltan Mammadov, said during
the committee's meeting today, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.


The MP noted that, according to the Ministry of Finance,
healthcare expenditures in next year's state budget are expected to
increase.


He emphasized the importance of integrating state programs into
the compulsory health insurance service package.


"As a committee, we have consistently raised these issues, and
last year, more than half of the existing state programs had
already been included in the service package," Mammadov
recalled.


According to him, one of the issues he proposed addressing
during the discussion of the state budget in the current autumn
session concerns rare diseases affecting children.


The MP noted that there are a number of other diseases currently
not included in the service package. In his view, it would be
appropriate to address these issues within the framework of new
state programs.


Mammadov mentioned that the aim of previously established state
programs was to raise awareness regarding issues related to
thalassemia and other diseases and to resolve them through
additional budgetary funding.







"Today, there are issues related to autism, and it would be
beneficial to increase our focus on this matter as well," the MP
stressed.


He remarked that, alongside incorporating services from major
state programs—which have been successfully implemented over the
years - into the service package, the development of new state
programs to manage certain rare diseases could also be
considered.


Mammadov also highlighted the importance of holding discussions
and hearings regarding tuberculosis.


He pointed out that the Ministry of Health has prepared the next
strategy for combating tuberculosis this year and will submit it to
the relevant authorities for approval. According to the MP,
discussing tuberculosis-related issues at this stage is significant
for integrating tuberculosis care, previously funded under a state
program, into the mandatory health insurance system, adopting a new
strategy, and planning future activities.


"Discussing this issue is crucial for integrating tuberculosis
into the mandatory health insurance system, adopting a new
strategy, and determining future actions," Mammadov concluded.