AGP Executive Report

Climate and Health: COP31 opened in Türkiye with the UN climate chief calling climate change a global health crisis and urging stronger health-system resilience. A report co-authored by Azerbaijan outlines climate solutions across sectors, including healthcare. Healthcare Services: Azerbaijan inaugurated an emergency department at Garabagh University Clinic, while President Ilham Aliyev inspected construction of Aghdam District Central Hospital. Insurance Policy: The government plans to postpone compulsory health insurance co-payments for another three years; 2027 budget proposals also set aside 3% of fund payments for administration. Health Tourism and Donation: Baku hosted an international health tourism conference as Azerbaijan works on a national strategy and plans health-tourism hotels in liberated territories. Separately, 16 families agreed to donate relatives’ organs after their deaths.

Clinical Capacity: Azerbaijan has opened an Emergency Medical Care Department at Garabagh University Clinic, while construction continues on Aghdam District Central Hospital. Health Insurance: Co-payments under compulsory health insurance are set to remain postponed for another three years; 3% of fund payments will go to administrative costs. Organ Donation: Sixteen families agreed to donate relatives’ organs after their deaths, according to a new report. Health Tourism: A Baku conference focused on a national strategy for health tourism, including plans for hotels in the liberated territories.

Healthcare Infrastructure: Azerbaijan’s Garabagh University Clinic has opened an emergency medical care department, while President Ilham Aliyev inspected construction of the Aghdam District Central Hospital. Insurance Policy: The government is preparing the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund’s 2027 budget; co-payments are set to remain postponed for another three years, and administrative costs are capped at 3% of contributions. Health Tourism: A Baku conference focused on plans for a national health tourism strategy, including hotels in the liberated territories. Organ Donation: Sixteen families in Azerbaijan have consented to organ donation after the deaths of relatives. Access to Care: A human-rights defender says imprisoned journalist Hafiz Babaly has gone six weeks without prescribed medication, with prison officials citing a delayed procurement tender. Climate and Health: COP31 opened in Antalya, Türkiye, with resilient health systems among the summit’s priorities.

Hospital Expansion: Azerbaijan’s 210-bed Aghdam District Central Hospital is under construction, with emergency, surgical, pediatric, dialysis and rehabilitation services planned. Emergency Care: Garabagh University Clinic has opened a new emergency department with 19 beds, five operating rooms and resuscitation and pediatric units. Health Financing: Azerbaijan plans to delay compulsory-insurance co-payments for another three years; proposed 2027 changes also include allocating 3% of insurance payments to administration. Health Tourism: Baku’s international health tourism conference highlighted plans for a national strategy and hotels in the liberated territories. Access to Medicine: Journalist Hafiz Babaly reportedly went without prescribed medication in prison for six weeks; officials attributed the interruption to an unfinished procurement tender.

Medication Access: Investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly says he has gone a month and a half without prescribed medication in prison; officials cited an unfinished procurement tender. New Care Facilities: A new emergency department has opened at Garabagh University Clinic, with 19 beds and five operating rooms. Construction is advancing on a 210-bed Aghdam Central Hospital, planned with services including cardiology, pediatrics, dialysis and rehabilitation. Insurance and Funding: Azerbaijan has postponed compulsory health insurance co-payments for another three years. Proposed changes would cap administrative costs at 3% of fund payments and bar investment of available funds in local financial markets. Health Tourism: Baku hosted an international conference as Azerbaijan develops a health tourism strategy, with hotels planned in the country’s liberated territories. Children’s Services: China-donated equipment for the Tut Əlimdən Children’s Rehabilitation Center is intended to expand its care facilities.

New Care Facilities: Garabagh University Clinic has opened a modern emergency department with resuscitation and pediatric units, five operating rooms and 19 emergency beds. Construction is also progressing on Aghdam’s planned 210-bed central hospital, with services ranging from cardiology and surgery to dialysis and rehabilitation. Children’s Rehabilitation: Baku’s Tut Əlimdən center received equipment donated by China, intended to strengthen its facilities and support children’s daily care. Health Coverage: Azerbaijan will postpone compulsory health insurance co-payments for another three years; a separate budget plan would direct 3% of insurance payments to administrative costs. Organ Donation: Sixteen families in Azerbaijan have consented to organ donation after the deaths of relatives. Access to Medicines: A human rights defender says investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly has gone without prescribed medication in prison for six weeks; prison medical staff reportedly blamed an unfinished procurement tender.

Hospital Expansion: President Ilham Aliyev inspected construction of a 210-bed central hospital in Aghdam, planned to offer services including emergency care, surgery, pediatrics, dialysis and rehabilitation. Emergency Care: Garabagh University Clinic opened a new emergency department with 19 beds, five operating rooms, resuscitation and pediatric units, and intensive-care ambulances. Health Insurance: Azerbaijan will postpone compulsory health insurance co-payments for another three years. Health Tourism: A Baku conference focused on a national health-tourism strategy, with hotels planned in liberated territories. Organ Donation: Sixteen families have consented to organ donation after relatives’ deaths, reflecting growing interest in donation.

Health Insurance: Azerbaijan plans to postpone compulsory health insurance co-payments for another three years. Draft 2027 measures would limit administrative spending to 3% of fund payments and set rules for financing care during emergencies. Organ Donation: Since February 2025, 16 families have agreed to donate relatives’ organs, enabling 85 transplants, including four heart transplants. About 1,500 people are waiting for an organ. Regional Care: Newly opened villages in Jabrayil and Zangilan include medical units, with a pharmacy planned in Jahangirbeyli. Health Tourism: Azerbaijan is preparing a national health tourism strategy as Baku hosts an international conference and hotels are planned in the liberated territories.

Organ Donation: Since February 2025, 16 families have consented to donate relatives’ organs after death, enabling 85 transplants, including four heart transplants. About 1,500 people are waiting for transplants. Medical Supplies: Customs officials found 480 undeclared medical items in a vehicle arriving from Türkiye; an investigation is under way. Insurance Changes: Proposed reforms would delay compulsory health insurance co-payments until 2030, cap fund administrative costs at 3% and bar investment of available funds in Azerbaijan’s domestic financial market. The proposals also allow state-budget support for medical costs during martial law or emergencies if insurance funds fall short. Health Tourism: Azerbaijan is developing a health tourism strategy, with hotels planned in liberated territories following an international conference in Baku. Maternity and Childcare Benefits: Proposed 2027 increases would raise childbirth benefits from AZN 600 to AZN 1,500 and monthly childcare payments for children under three.

Health and Detention: Journalist Polad Aslanov reportedly developed new health problems after ending a 20-day hunger strike and needed treatment. Medical Controls: Customs officers seized 480 undeclared medical items from a vehicle arriving from Türkiye; an investigation is underway. Health Insurance: Proposed changes would delay compulsory-insurance co-payments until 2030, cap fund administrative costs at 3% and allow state-budget support for emergency medical demand. Family Support: Azerbaijan plans to raise childbirth benefits from AZN 600 to AZN 1,500 in 2027, alongside increases to childcare payments. Health Tourism: Azerbaijan is working on a health tourism strategy, with hotels planned in the country’s liberated territories.

Insurance Reform: Azerbaijan plans to delay compulsory health-insurance co-payments until 2030. Proposed changes would cap Fund administrative spending at 3%, prevent investment of its reserves in local financial markets and allow state-budget support for medical costs during emergencies. The Fund’s 2027 budget is projected at AZN 2.98 billion, up 14%. Health Tourism: Baku hosted an international health tourism conference as Azerbaijan works on a national strategy; plans also include health tourism hotels in liberated territories. Cleaner Air: A national action plan to combat air pollution from 2028 to 2035 is due to be drafted by November 2027. Heart Transplants: Azerbaijan’s growing interest in organ donation follows its first historic heart transplant. Health professionals say a sustainable transplant program is needed, with many people awaiting donor hearts.

Health Funding: Azerbaijan projects AZN 2.98 billion for the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund in 2027, up 14% from this year. Medical Tourism: Baku hosted the 3rd International Health Tourism Conference, where officials said Azerbaijan will develop a sector strategy. Health-focused hotels are planned for Kalbajar and Zangilan, with a medical tourism hub also proposed for Baku. Patient Safety: Azerbaijan’s National Cybersecurity Agency warned that attacks on internet-connected refrigeration systems could threaten healthcare supplies, citing incidents abroad that disrupted equipment at a blood bank in France. Clean Air: A national plan for 2028–2035 is being prepared to tackle air pollution and improve air quality. Transplant Care: After Azerbaijan’s first historic heart transplant, officials report growing interest in organ donation but say many people are still waiting for transplants; a sustainable national transplant program is a stated goal.

Health Funding: Azerbaijan’s Compulsory Health Insurance Fund is projected to receive and spend AZN 2.98 billion in 2027, up AZN 281 million, or 14%, from 2026. The government also lists healthcare among sectors slated for development under next year’s budget priorities. Medical Tourism: Baku is hosting the 3rd International Health Tourism Conference as Azerbaijan prepares a strategy to grow the sector under its 2026–2030 tourism program. Officials say the plan will identify resources needed to strengthen the country’s position in medical tourism. Transplant Care: Recent events marking Heart Transplantation Week highlighted efforts to build a sustainable transplant program in Azerbaijan, where officials say many people are awaiting heart transplants.

Detention Health: Activist Matanat Turan’s health has reportedly worsened in Baku’s SIZO-1, with her party alleging she is not receiving necessary medical care. She was detained after protests over hijab restrictions in schools. Transplant Care: Azerbaijan is seeing growing interest in organ donation after its first historic heart transplant. At a recent conference, a committee chairman said many people are waiting for heart transplants, while a professor said the goal is to build a sustainable national programme. Food Safety: Fourteen people were reported ill with food poisoning at a Baku restaurant, while eight students in Absheron were suspected of poisoning at school.

Food Safety: Fourteen people were reported to have suffered food poisoning at a Baku restaurant. Transplant Care: A historic heart transplant is drawing greater interest in organ donation in Azerbaijan. During Heart Transplantation Week, specialists discussed building a sustainable transplant programme and noted that many people are waiting for heart transplants. School Health: Eight students in Absheron were reported to have suspected food poisoning at school.

Prison Health: Azerbaijani journalist Polad Aslanov ended a 20-day hunger strike after his condition sharply worsened; doctors warned of serious health risks. Pregnancy: Preliminary research links chronic high blood pressure before or early in pregnancy to a 30% higher risk of critical congenital heart defects. Food Safety: Fourteen people reported suspected food poisoning after a gathering at a Baku restaurant; five were hospitalized, and the Food Safety Agency is investigating. Transplant Care: Azerbaijan’s first donor heart transplant, performed last year, has helped spur interest in organ donation. Doctors say four heart transplants have been performed, but more than 50 people are waiting.