From time to time, appropriate steps have been taken in Azerbaijan towards the merger of similar institutions. Currently, TƏBİB and the Ministry of Health are mentioned among the institutions considered possible for merger. This is justified by the fact that both institutions perform almost similar functions. According to claims, the execution of similar functions by two institutions also leads to additional bureaucratic costs.
In a statement to Modern.az, **Malahat Ibrahimqizi**, a member of the Milli Majlis Health Committee, stated that serious reforms are underway in the healthcare system in our country in recent years, as in all other fields:
“It is commendable that within a short period, significant successes have been achieved in the quality and efficiency of medical services provided to the population within the framework of these reforms. Generally, there is such a concept: “The best medical service.” The duties and roles of the Ministry of Health and TƏBİB are not the same. In every country, the main function of the Ministry of Health is to implement the state's healthcare policy. In this sense, the Ministry of Health, as its fundamental function, is directly responsible for the successful implementation of this policy, or rather, for the correct and proper implementation of the decrees and orders of the head of state, laws adopted by legislative bodies, decisions, programs, and strategies of the Cabinet of Ministers. At the same time, the training of medical personnel in the country, as well as the periodic improvement of active medical workers based on the achievements and requirements of modern medical science, and the adaptation of medical institutions to international standards are among the most important duties of the Ministry of Health.
Today, the solutions to the problem of shortage of medical personnel in the remote regions of our country, which is known to everyone, must also be found by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health is also a supervisory p. That is, it is the central executive authority that controls the implementation of the state's healthcare policy by medical institutions.
TƏBİB, on the other hand, is an executive p. World experience shows that when the executive function and the supervisory function are concentrated within the authority of one p, more problems arise. TƏBİB provides medical services based on methodological recommendations, protocols, and rules from the Ministry of Health. However, there are quite a few shortcomings in this regard in the country. As a physician by profession and a long-time member of the Health Committee, I can say that although medical services operate based on protocols and norms in all progressive countries today, there are still gaps in this area in our country's healthcare institutions. The preparation of unified registries has not yet been completed. This either does not exist or is incomplete. Control over state and private healthcare facilities operating in our country is still not satisfactory. Uncertified medical personnel operate in private healthcare facilities.
The main task of TƏBİB is to provide high-quality medical services to the population based on the existing healthcare policy of our state. It is to identify problems hindering the provision of high-quality medical services and to appeal to the Ministry of Health, as well as relevant higher bodies, for the solution of these problems. As an executive p, it is to put forward initiatives for the timely elimination of existing gaps in practical activity and legislation.
It is to establish transparent and accountable cooperation with the Compulsory Medical Insurance Agency. Undoubtedly, TƏBİB is a new institution in the country, and everyone has high expectations. TƏBİB is directly responsible for the more efficient and flexible operation of the medical institutions under its subordination.”
M. Ibrahimqizi emphasized that there is no basis for casting a shadow on TƏBİB's activities in the press or public at a time when successful reforms are being implemented in the country:
“Generally, in many countries, the independent activity of institutions like TƏBİB, which provide medical services, proves more effective. Logically, when the p executing the service and the p supervising the service are in one institution, there will be more problems with quality. For the sake of fairness, we must admit that considerable successes have been achieved thanks to the activities of these two institutions.”
Another member of the Milli Majlis Health Committee, **Mushfig Mammadli**, stated that these issues are a priority topic for the supreme executive authorities:
“According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the form in which reforms are to be carried out has been determined by the country's leader. Therefore, it is not appropriate for us to comment on this. In a general context, we can say that reforms are underway, and optimization is being carried out in every state p. This optimization aims to establish more agile and effective governance. Naturally, certain steps in this direction are planned and implemented in all sectors – healthcare, education, as well as local executive authorities.”
The deputy noted that in recent years, especially after the Karabakh Victory, reforms have been more intensive and continuous:
“We observe steps in this direction in all other bodies – local executive authorities, education, and healthcare. Here too, the leaders of the supreme executive authority take steps when necessary. Specifically, it is the supreme leadership that executes the process of how one organization will merge with another.”
