Additional funding worth over MNT 700 billion to be allocated to health sector

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. The Cabinet has convened irregularly today, June 29, and resolved the following issues. At the meeting, the Cabinet discussed bills to amend laws on Fiscal Stability, 2021 Budget Framework Statement, Budget Assumptions for 2022-2023, State Budget for 2021, Budget of Social Insurance Fund for 2021 as well as other related laws, and decided to submit them to the Parliament. According to the amendments to the state budget law, the ‘Child Money’ monthly allowance of MNT 100 thousand, which was first raised in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 situations, will be continually given to each child until the end of 2021. An additional MNT 576.0 billion will be required to grant the Child Allowance. A total of 71.5 thousand welfare beneficiaries will continue receiving the raised pensions and benefits until the end of 2021. Moreover, additional funding of over MNT 700 billion will be allocated to the health sector. For instance, the salaries of doctors and medical staff working in the ‘red zone’ will be raised by 50 percent, aside of increasing the cost of medicine required for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. It is planned to grant monetary incentives of MNT 2 million to each of 13 thousand doctors and medical staff working in the ‘red zone,’ and MNT 1 million to each of 19.5 thousand workers of the health sector. MNT 61 billion will be also spent on making reserves of essential reagents for molecular and biological analysis, diagnosing devices and antiviral drugs, MNT 110 billion -- preparing additional beds as well as MNT 3.7 billion -- the salaries of resident doctors. Moreover, exemptions from utility bills (electricity, heating, water and waste bills) being provided to households and businesses will be extended until the end of 2021.