MNT60 billion of the MNT80.7 billion in the Health Insurance Fund goes to State hospitals annually, with private hospitals getting MNT15 billion of the rest. However, complaints of poor service at State hospitals are universal. The Fund comprises MNT10 billion from the Government for treatment of the elderly, children and people with disabilities, and MNT70.7 billion from the tax paid by working citizens.
State hospitals say 28% of their patients are tax payers while 60% are from categories paid for by the Government. Minister for Health S.Lambaa has said that the Government annually pays MNT6,000 for a member of these categories but hospitals spend MNT200,000 for one person’s treatment on average .
The Government submitted a draft law on health insurance to Parliament in October, 2010 to extend insurance cover to all citizens, including the 400,000 who do not pay health insurance at present. The draft provides for two types of insurance — mandatory and optional. The second is a new concept in Mongolia.
The dual insurance structure was common in the UK, the USA and Germany but many of the private insurance companies have gone bankrupt. Observers feel Mongolia should study the experience of these countries before hurrying to adopt a new system of health insurance.