NHA Policy implication: Armenia Experience
Estimation Year
2004
Intended Policy Goals
National health accounts were first implemented in Armenia in 2004. Subsequent estimations were undertaken in 2005, 2006 and 2007 which allowed for trend analyses to assess indicators selected to monitor health sector reforms, assess the efficiency of the resource use and resource allocation patterns as well as to consider findings in health finance policy further development. Additional analysis of the database on household health expenditures was also performed. The main objectives for NHA in Armenia are:
- Show the progress of the reform in PHC sector initiated in year 2006 and the effect of the provision of free of charge health care to all strata of population at the PHC facilities;
- Assess the burden of out-of-pocket costs by type of care and income group;
- Assess the extent of catastrophic health expenditures by the household;
- Assess the volume of informal payment, differentiated per group of services;
- Provide recommendations on 2009 Budget allocations;
- Provide recommendations for health financing policy development.
Actual Policy Use
Two types of costs account for more than three quarters of the out of pocket health expenditures in Armenia- hospital care and pharmaceuticals. Despite the larger benefit package provided to the vulnerable population under the state guarantee program, the population (generally those below the poverty level) has been allocating a large portion of their incomes to health care. The impact of out-of-pocket health care costs is regressive: the poor pay more, proportionately, than the rich. Considering the results of the study the following decisions were made: (1) 2009 budget allocation for reproductive health, including antenatal care, hospital delivery and postnatal services was almost tripled; (2) Approaches for the introduction of a system of co-payments in the hospital sector was developed, including a list of services for which the population will pay and the co-payment size. The implementation of the system of co-payment is scheduled to be introduced in 2010.
Source
State Health Agency at the MoH
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