OREANDA-NEWS. December 31, 2008. The Collegiate Board of the Ministry of Health has held a session presided by health minister Ogtay Shiraliyev. The meeting was devoted to the activity results following 2008.

Addressing to the session Soltan Aliyev, the director of the Ministry’s Medical Aid Department, said that this year State Budget directed AZN 558 million for public healthcare that is by 20% more compared with 2008.

“Lately it has been developed and passed nine state programs in the area of healthcare. Within the framework of State Diabetes Programme it was improved work on definition of diabetes patients. By the present Azerbaijan has registered some 100,000 patients,” he said.

The Ministry is also ongoing work on use of information technologies.

“Currently more than 50,000 newborns were given electronic health cards. In 2009 relevant work will continue,” Aliyev said.

This year medical institutions employed 454 doctors and 917 paramedics. Presently the healthcare system involves over 28,000 doctors and 57,000 paramedics.