Health Ministry's Budget Increased by Approximately 27 Billion Dram Over the Year

The budget of the Ministry of Health of Armenia has increased by approximately 27 billion dram during 2021 compared to the initially approved budget at the beginning of the year.

This was stated by the Minister of Finance, Tigran Khachatryan, during a joint session of the Standing Committees on Health and Financial and Budgetary Issues of the National Assembly, which discussed the draft state budget for 2022.

The minister noted, "The 2022 state budget provides for about 120 billion dram to be spent on programs implemented by the Ministry of Health, as opposed to the 114 billion 500 million dram approved for 2021. This is an increase of 4.7 percent compared to the approved budget for 2021."

However, throughout the year, the health budget has been periodically reviewed, and additional allocations have been made in connection with the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. "If we consider the adjusted budget as of November 8, 2021, it stands at approximately 142.2 billion dram. Therefore, we have already made additions amounting to about 27 billion dram during the year. Of these, directly 18 billion dram are related to separate programs and measures aimed at combating the coronavirus, preventing, controlling, treating its consequences," Khachatryan said.

He assured that in 2022, in all cases where there are evident needs, appropriate decisions will be made regarding financial allocations.