Committee Endorses Loan Agreement

The Loan Agreement Implementation of the Universal Health Coverage Programme between the Republic of Armenia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development was signed on July 25, 2024.

The Agreement envisages the bank providing Armenia with a loan of 102.000.000 euros for the execution of the Implementation of the Universal Health Coverage Programme. This was stated by the First Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia Lena Nanushyan, presenting the draft law on Ratification of the Loan Agreement Implementation of the Universal Health Coverage Programme between the Republic of Armenia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for debate at the sitting of April 11 of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care.

According to the Deputy Minister, the aim of the programme is to improve the quality of primary healthcare, increase the efficiency of public healthcare expenditures and reduce financial barriers to accessing healthcare services. The programme will operate until September 30, 2029.

It was noted that the loan will be used primarily for the purpose of introducing comprehensive health insurance.

The interest rate of the 102.000.000 loan is floating, the loan repayment period is 25 years, of which the preferential period is 15 years.

Loan service payments will be made semi-annually, on January 15 and July 15 of each year, and the principal will be repaid starting from July 15, 2039 to January 15, 2049.

The Deputy Minister answered the MPs' questions and provided clarifications.

In his related report, the Committee Chair Arsen Torosyan urged his colleagues to vote for the bill.

The draft has been endorsed by the Committee.