Draft Law on compulsory medical insurance funds set for public debate

The Health Ministry has published the draft Law on compulsory medical insurance funds. If it is adopted by the Parliament, the incomes and expenses in the public health sector can boost over 31% in 2009, compared with 2008, Info-Prim Neo reports. Of a total amount of 3.472 billion lei, the Government is to contribute 1.820 billion, and the rest will be payed by employees and employers (by 3.5% from the income and wage funds, respectively), plus the money from selling medical insurance cards. Compared with 2008, the employers and employees will have to pay 0.5 % more, while the insurances to be sold are twice more expensive -- 2,637.6 lei proposed. Gheorghe Russu, the manager of the Medical Insurance National Corporation, explains the hike through the increase of the average salary. Structurally, 30% from the funds will go to primary medicine, 50% to hospital assistance, and the rest of 20 % is planned to go to urgent assistance, domicile nursing, compensated medicines, etc.