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UN Special Rapporteur: â€œAbortion rate is high in Azerbaijanâ€ - PHOTO

UN Special Rapporteur: â€œAbortion rate is high in Azerbaijanâ€ - <font color=red>PHOTO</font>

23 May 2012 12:49 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Anakhanum Hidayatova â€“ APA. UN Special Rapporteur on right to health Anand Grover is on a visit to Azerbaijan. APA reports that Grover, who has been on a visit to Azerbaijan since May 16, announced some of preliminary observations, which will be reflected in the final report that will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June, 2013.

In his press conference in Baku, Grover estimated the steps of the Azerbaijani government due to economic growth and reduction of poverty in the country after achieving the independence, but at the same time noted that inequality was continuing: â€œThe excess of health expenditures show that the government wants to improve the situation of health in the country. For example, the budgetary allocations to health sphere in 2003-2012, including 18% growth in 2012-2012, increased by 10 times. The capital investment to the health sphere also increased. Amount of state investments in the health in 2012 increased by 40% in comparison with 2011, 400 health facilities were renewed or reconstructed. But the current state health expenditures didnâ€™t conform to Azerbaijanâ€™s economic growth and temp of state expenditures for the other spheres. The state expenditures form 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product. It is a low index from the point of view of the international standards and is less than the corresponding average level of 2010 for America (8.1%), Europe (7.4%), post-soviet republics (5.9%) and Africa (3%). Only 4.5% of Azerbaijanâ€™s state budget is allocated to the health sphere, however the average level of this index for Europe was 15.3% in 2010. The government also confesses that the health expenditures are very low.

According to the expert, despite the law requires free medical services in the state health facilities, the informal payments are made in exchange for these services. Grover said that the reason of these problems appears from the low salary of doctors and the other health workers: â€œThe low salary shows itself in the low quality of medical servicesâ€.

Special rapporteur noted that the salaries of physicians and other health workers should be increased significantly.

Grover recommended the government to focus on the implementation of the compulsory medical insurance program. Grover noted that this program has been delayed several times and during the meeting with government officials it was not mentioned where and how this program will be implemented.

Grover became familiar with the state of implementation of the health law in prisons and detention facilities during his visit. He expressed his concern on inadequate sanitary and untidiness condition in prisons, especially in the medical units of prisons and spreading of tuberculosis.

Grover said that the rate of implementation of sexual and reproductive health law in Azerbaijan causes concern. The guest announced that the rate of abortion in the country is the one of the highest indicators in the world: â€œLack of awareness and enlightenment on sexual and reproductive health causes it.â€

Groverâ€™s visit will end today. He met government officials, representatives of the international organizations and civil society.