List of beneficiaries of free medical assistance was extended

Mothers taking care of children with a I degree disability and those who have 7 and more children will benefit from free medical assistance. The Executive decided, on 16 August, to extend the categories benefiting from these services within the Unique Program of Compulsory Medical Insurances. According to the minister of health and social protection, Ion Ababii, 4,312 mothers will benefit from free medical assistance. The public costs amount to 4,176 million lei. According to the minister, the Government’s decision will be applied while amending the budget for 2006. The cost of the compulsory medical insurance for 2006 is estimated at 816 lei. The wage-earners contribute to the medical insurance budget 2% of incomes, other 2% being paid by the employer. The estimated incomes for 2006 into the compulsory medical insurances funds are 1, 527billion lei, increasing over 15 % compared with 2005. Until now retired people, children, unemployed, invalids and pregnant women benefited from free medical assistance.