3,381.38
Parliament yesterday discussed draft changes in the law on the civil
health insurance and 80% of members
agreed to send it back to the
Standing Committee for further discussion in the next stage to being approved. The
Government has proposed the changes as it favors a new insurance financing
system, and wants the present practice of budgetary support to end. They
propose to redefine the role and function of the National Council, to rename Civil
Health Insurance as Social Health Insurance, to give every citizen a health ID
card, and to bring more citizens under health insurance coverage.
Minister of Health S.Lambaa said the changes will offer more diagnostic services
to the insured, in cases that do not call for hospitalization. This will relieve
the pressure on hospitals. Many MPs, however, even when agreeing that the changes
should be discussed further, criticized the terms of the draft.
G.Bayarsaikhan feared that the draft, purporting to make the health sector independent
of the state, will end up having it more dependent on the budget. R.Gonchigdorj
wanted more freedom for a patient to choose where he wished to go for treatment.
L.Gundalai wondered why MPs who had refused to discuss similar changes he had
proposed when he was Health Minister have now changed their mind. “Is it
because you now want to lay your hands on MNT500,000 from the Human Development
Fund?” he asked.
Lambaa agreed to consider several changes to the draft that were suggested
during the debate, especially on the role of the National Council. U.Enkhtuvshin, head of the Standing Committee
on State Structure, said they had approved establishment of the council, as a means
to avoid duplication of work and reduce staff.
health insurance and 80% of members
agreed to send it back to the
Standing Committee for further discussion in the next stage to being approved. The
Government has proposed the changes as it favors a new insurance financing
system, and wants the present practice of budgetary support to end. They
propose to redefine the role and function of the National Council, to rename Civil
Health Insurance as Social Health Insurance, to give every citizen a health ID
card, and to bring more citizens under health insurance coverage.
Minister of Health S.Lambaa said the changes will offer more diagnostic services
to the insured, in cases that do not call for hospitalization. This will relieve
the pressure on hospitals. Many MPs, however, even when agreeing that the changes
should be discussed further, criticized the terms of the draft.
G.Bayarsaikhan feared that the draft, purporting to make the health sector independent
of the state, will end up having it more dependent on the budget. R.Gonchigdorj
wanted more freedom for a patient to choose where he wished to go for treatment.
L.Gundalai wondered why MPs who had refused to discuss similar changes he had
proposed when he was Health Minister have now changed their mind. “Is it
because you now want to lay your hands on MNT500,000 from the Human Development
Fund?” he asked.
Lambaa agreed to consider several changes to the draft that were suggested
during the debate, especially on the role of the National Council. U.Enkhtuvshin, head of the Standing Committee
on State Structure, said they had approved establishment of the council, as a means
to avoid duplication of work and reduce staff.
