The powers of the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance (SAMHI) regarding the mandatory health insurance of the population have been transferred to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. According to Operative Information Center-OMM, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on measures to improve management in the field of mandatory health insurance for the population in Azerbaijan.
Under the decree, the State Medical Insurance and Expertise Agency (SMIEA) has been established as a public legal entity under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. This new entity was formed through the reorganization and merger of SAMHI and the State Medical-Social Expertise and Rehabilitation Agency. The SMIEA will be responsible for implementing mandatory health insurance, managing funds within the mandatory health insurance fund, and acting as a centralized purchaser of medical services on behalf of the state. Furthermore, the agency will oversee disability determination and the final medical examination of citizens called up for active military service.
The restructuring also reallocates specific responsibilities to other bodies. The rights and obligations of SAMHI regarding the provision of medicines and medical supplies to insured persons have been transferred to the Administration of the Regional Medical Divisions (TABIB). Additionally, the functions related to providing rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities, along with the relevant rehabilitation centers and assets, have been transferred to the Social Services Agency under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. A Management Board consisting of five members—a chairman and four deputies—will be established to provide general leadership and oversight for the new agency.
This administrative reform aims to streamline the social and medical protection systems in Azerbaijan by integrating health insurance financing with social expertise. Mandatory health insurance was fully implemented across Azerbaijan in 2021, marking a significant milestone in the country's healthcare strategy. By consolidating these functions under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, the government seeks to enhance the efficiency of medical service delivery and ensure more transparent management of the state's social-medical resources.
