Unitary health insurer project on hold due to lack of money

The introduction of a unitary health insurance system with a single, state-run insurer, which should have taken place last year, is still pending, according to a report on the progress of the project drafted by the Health Ministry that was acknowledged by the Cabinet on Wednesday. The ministry had previously stated that the project is drafted, but it can't be carried out due to a lack of financial resources. "Due to the financial aspects of the project concerning the introduction of the unitary system of public health insurance, the Health Ministry ... will not take any further steps at the moment, as these could result in a premature and inefficient use of public resources", reads the document. The Government approved the introduction of a unitary system of health insurance back in the summer of 2012, planning to set this up as of January 2014 if existing private health insurers Dôvera and Union had been willing to accept some sort of agreement; or as of July 2014 if it had had to resort to expropriating the insurers.