First Post-Recession Health Care Budget Promises Better Funding
Doctors and hospitals have much to cheer about in next year's health care budget, according to the Social Affairs Ministry, with a 7 percent increase in state spending expected.
The budget for health insurance passed the first reading in the Health Insurance Fund's supervisory board, with perhaps one-third of the requests approved for funding from the 787 million euro budget - a normal situation, said chairman of the management board Hannes Danilov on ETV.
A number of key changes are planned in next year's budget - such as more test strips and insulin pumps for diabetics, and more service recipients, according to Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur.
"The main thing is that more medical care will be available next year than was this year," said Pevkur.
A recession-era measure that resulted in a five percent cut on health care spending was lifted. GPs - family doctors, as they are universally called in Estonia - are getting two percent more money in their fund for running tests and screenings. Nursing care will get 19 percent more support, as such facilities in the municipalities were not coping anymore.
Several measures designed to encourage GPs in remote areas to continue to practice there came into effect. And 30 more procedures were added to the Health Insurnace Fund's list of eligible procedures.
Kristopher Rikken
