Long Queues at Azerbaijani Hospitals Raise Concerns

Complaints have recently surfaced regarding long queues at state polyclinics in Azerbaijan's capital city, Baku. These queues are reportedly occurring among individuals seeking medical attention through the Compulsory Health Insurance program.

K.L., a patient, shared his experience of waiting for over an hour at Polyclinic No. 3, citing a shortage of staff and an influx of patients as contributing factors. He highlighted the challenges faced by individuals with illnesses who find it difficult to endure long waits. K.L. also noted that those without insurance seem to bypass the queues, creating further frustration. Limited financial resources often prevent patients from seeking care at private clinics as an alternative.

Patients requiring appointments with multiple doctors must obtain separate referrals for each visit, leading to additional waiting times. Sometimes, patients are unable to secure a doctor's appointment altogether due to the daily limits set for physicians.

Efforts to address these concerns with the Polyclinic administration have been unsuccessful so far. However, the state agency responsible for compulsory medical insurance explained to the Turan agency that medical care is provided on a shift basis at medical institutions overseen by the Association for the Management of Medical Territorial Units (TƏBİB). The daily limit for doctors ranges from 15 to 35 patients, based on the type and nature of medical examinations, with international practices taken into account when determining these limits.

Monitoring was conducted at 12 medical institutions between January and March of this year. To manage patient flow more effectively, the installation of queue-regulating systems and the implementation of online registration for doctor's appointments through the e- TƏBİB mobile application have been proposed.

Furthermore, citizens' appeals to regional central hospitals, located far from their place of residence, for outpatient services have contributed to the overload of these facilities. This situation arises because family health centers in districts offer services in limited areas.

Dr. Adil Geybulla, a Doctor of Medical Sciences, told Radio Azadlig that compulsory medical insurance worldwide operates by appointment. However, Azerbaijan lacks such a system, leading to lengthy queues. Dr. Geybulla believes that citizens should schedule appointments in advance, as doctors require sufficient time to interrogate patients, review their analyses, and conduct thorough examinations. He emphasized the need to align Azerbaijan's compulsory health insurance with Western standards, acknowledging that both citizens and doctors are not to blame for the current situation.

Although the "Health Insurance Law" was passed in Azerbaijan 24 years ago, it only began to be implemented nationwide in April 2021. The amounts and rates of insurance premiums for compulsory health insurance are determined by the aforementioned law.