YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 19 sitting, the government approved the draft decision on the 2008-2012 strategy on primary health care of the population of the RA and the program of measures on its implementation. The RA minister of health Harutyun Kushkian told reporters following the sitting that within the next 5 years, the draft decision envisages an annual 30-35% growth of allocations for outpatient and polyclinic services in the ministry budget: the allocations will grow from 19.1 bln drams (about 62.6 mln USD) in 2008 to 47 bln drams in 2011. The minister explained that this amount will allow to expand the range of laboratory diagnostic services and the increase the list and amount of medicines provided free of charge or at reduced prices. H. Kushkian said that with the aim of improving medical services, it is envisaged to repair 50 outpatient departments and 110 obstetric units. According to him, salaries of doctors and nurses will continue growing by about 30% annually, the process of free choice of doctors will go on, while starting from 2009, the financing of primary health care will be done based the number of registered services.

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