Exploring Azerbaijan's Healthcare: Hospitals And Their Numbers

Azerbaijan has been working to improve its healthcare system in recent years, with new medical facilities, training for medical staff, and new equipment. However, public healthcare in the country remains underdeveloped and underfunded, with most facilities located in Baku. As a result, expats often opt for private healthcare, which has expanded in recent years and offers higher standards of care. The country has also seen a growth in medical tourism, with visitors from Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Russia.

Public vs. private hospitals in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's healthcare system is provided by both public and private healthcare institutions and is regulated through the Ministry of Healthcare. As of 2020, there were 1,174 hospitals in Azerbaijan, 656 of which were private.

Public hospitals in Azerbaijan are run by the state, and medical care is offered free of charge for Azerbaijani residents. These include pediatric and adult polyclinics offering outpatient services and specialized clinics/hospitals offering inpatient services. Most public hospitals are located in Baku. However, the public healthcare system in Azerbaijan is underfunded and inefficient. The government has been trying to address these problems by implementing reforms and projects and seeking support from international organizations like the World Bank.

Private healthcare in Azerbaijan has been expanding recently. Private hospitals are common for those who can afford them. The Bona Dea International Hospital in Baku, for example, was built in 2018 to attract international customers and has staff from various European countries. Azerbaijan is also a target of health tourists from countries like Iran, Turkey, Georgia, and Russia.

The country implemented mandatory health insurance in 2021, which covers primary, inpatient, emergency, and specialized outpatient care, as well as laboratory services, physiotherapy, and invasive radiology. This has shifted government investment towards ensuring broad access to basic healthcare rather than modernizing and subsidizing equipment for public hospitals.

Healthcare costs in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's healthcare system is provided by both public and private healthcare institutions and is regulated through the Ministry of Healthcare. The country has seen significant improvements in its healthcare system in recent years, with support from the World Bank. New medical facilities have been constructed, medical equipment has been upgraded, and medical staff have received training. As of 2020, there were 1,174 hospitals in Azerbaijan, with 656 of those being private.

Public hospitals in Azerbaijan are run by the state, and medical care is offered free of charge for Azerbaijani residents. These public facilities include pediatric and adult polyclinics offering outpatient services, as well as specialized clinics and hospitals offering inpatient services. Most of these public facilities are located in Baku. Despite the improvements, Azerbaijani society still suffers from inefficient and underfunded public healthcare.

Private healthcare in Azerbaijan has been expanding recently. Private hospitals are common for those who can afford to pay. The Bona Dea International Hospital in Baku was built in 2018 to attract international customers and has staff from various European countries. Azerbaijan has become a target for health tourists from countries like Iran, Turkey, Georgia, and Russia.

In 2021, Azerbaijan fully implemented a mandatory health insurance program, which covers primary, inpatient, emergency, and specialized outpatient care, as well as laboratory services, physiotherapy, and invasive radiology. This program is administered by the Azerbaijani Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB), a public legal entity under the State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance. The focus of government investment has shifted towards ensuring broad access to basic healthcare rather than modernizing and subsidizing equipment for public hospitals.

Notable hospitals in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has 569 hospitals, 1758 ambulatory-polyclinics, and 32.2 thousand physicians. The country's healthcare system is provided by both public and private institutions and is regulated by the Ministry of Healthcare. While public healthcare is free for Azerbaijani residents, it is largely underfunded and inefficient. Most public facilities are located in Baku, and public healthcare is almost non-existent outside of the city. On the other hand, the private healthcare sector has expanded in recent years, offering higher standards of care, modern equipment, and well-qualified staff.

Bona Dea International Hospital, Baku

Bona Dea International Hospital is a private hospital in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was built in 2018 to attract international customers, particularly health tourists from countries like Iran, Turkey, Georgia, and Russia. The hospital has staff from various European countries and offers a wide range of treatments, including conventional and alternative practices.

Ganja International Hospital, Ganja

Ganja International Hospital is another notable private hospital in Azerbaijan, located in the city of Ganja.

Republican Treatment and Diagnostic Center, Baku

The Republican Treatment and Diagnostic Center is a public healthcare facility in Baku. It is one of the central institutions belonging to the Ministry of Healthcare.

Shusha Hospital, Shusha

Shusha Hospital is a public hospital located in the city of Shusha, providing inpatient services to the residents of the region.

Central Clinical Hospital, Baku

The Central Clinical Hospital in Baku offers a range of medical services, including anaesthesia, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, child health, and surgery.

Central Customs Hospital, Baku

The Central Customs Hospital is another public hospital in Baku, offering various medical services such as anaesthesia, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, paediatrics, pathology, radiology, and surgery.

Medical tourism in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has been an attractive destination for medical tourism for several reasons. The country boasts a range of curative resources, including around 300 mud volcanoes, the therapeutic mud from which is used in cosmetology and the treatment of various diseases. Azerbaijan also has mineral-rich waters, warm healing springs, and salt mines, all of which have been used for their health benefits.

The country's medical tourism industry is supported by its many medical facilities, including public hospitals and specialist clinics, most of which are state-owned and offer free services. There is also a growing number of private clinics and hospitals. However, medical facilities outside of Baku, the capital, are quite limited.

Azerbaijan's medical tourism sector has been growing steadily, with a 30% increase in health tourists in 2018 over the previous year, and it was expected to increase by another 19% in 2019. The country's unique health tourism destinations, natural therapeutic resources, and developing medical infrastructure all contribute to its appeal as a medical tourism destination.

In addition to its health offerings, Azerbaijan also provides tourists with cultural, historical, and natural attractions. Baku, the capital, is home to the Walled City of Baku (Icheri Sheher), which hosts over 50 historic and architectural monuments, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Outside of Baku, the country offers resort areas with varied climates and diverse flora and fauna, including the cities of Ganja, Nakhchivan, Gabala, and Shaki. Azerbaijan's eight national parks, including Gobustan National Park with its ancient rock carvings, and its ski resorts, such as Shahdag and Tufandag, also attract tourists seeking natural beauty and outdoor activities.

With its combination of curative resources, developing medical infrastructure, and diverse cultural and natural attractions, Azerbaijan offers a unique and appealing destination for those seeking health and wellness alongside leisure and recreation.

Emergency services in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has a range of notable hospitals, including Bona Dea International Hospital and the Central Clinical Hospital in Baku, the Republican Treatment and Diagnostic Center, and the Ganja International Hospital in Ganja.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Azerbaijan Republic is the central body within the cabinet responsible for protecting the population from natural and man-made disasters. The ministry is headed by Kamaladdin Heydarov and includes the following departments:

• State Fire Control Service
• Troops of the Civil Defence
• State Agency of Stock
• The State Agency for Control over the safety of construction
• Agency for the safe conduct of work in industry and mining control
• State Water Reserves Agency
• State Agency on Nuclear and Radiological Activity Regulation (SANRAR)
• Special Risky Rescue Service
• Rescue Service of the Caspian Basin
• Crisis Management Center
• Operative Investigation Department
• Material-Technical Supply Department
• Office of Capital Construction
• Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

The Civil Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan is controlled by the Law "About Civil Defence", introduced by decree in 1998. This law outlines the responsibilities of various government bodies and leaders of installations in emergency situations such as fires, earthquakes, and military conflict.

In the event of an emergency, the following numbers can be called:

• Ambulance: 103
• Electricity: 199
• State Migration Service: 919
• Ministry of Emergency Situations Hotline: 112

Frequently asked questions