CABINET REVIEWS WINTER PREPARATION, HEALTHCARE AND FOOD PROGRAMS, AND MONETARY ALLOWANCE FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TS.ELBEGDORJ
The Cabinet meeting on August 9 discussed winter preparation, implementation of the Healthcare Program, Fruit Program and former President Ts.Elbegdorj’s state welfare allowance. The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Sports to complete all restorations of public schools, kindergartens and hospitals by September 1.
The Minister of Energy has been instructed to complete maintainance of electricity, heating and plumbing networks as soon as possible.
Premier J.Erdenebat also instructed Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry P.Sergelen to focus on harvesting as much hay as possible, preventing livestock diseases, urging herders to improve the health of their livestock, and to accelerate taking measures to increase meat exports.
During the meeting, Minister of Health B.Tsogtsetseg reported on the Eleg Buten Mongol Program, which aims to reduce the number of Mongolians infected with the hepatitis B and C viruses by 2020.
Minister B.Tsogtsetseg stated that 230,000 citizens from 510,000 people between the ages of 40 to 65 have been tested for hepatitis virus for free at districts, provinces and soums’ public hospitals under the program and thanked the free test campaigns, which discovered that 17.5 percent of the 230,000 people who took tests are infected with hepatitis B or C.
The Minister of Health noted that to continue implementing the program, the ministry needs to receive more funds.
Prime Minister J.Erdenebat instructed Minister of Finance B.Choijilsuren and Minister of Labor and Social Protection N.Nomtoibayar to allocate funds required to keep the sustainable implementation of health programs.
Cabinet approved the National Fruit Program. It was reported that due to low fruit production in 2016, Mongolia was able to meet only 1.5 percent of domestic fruit demand. The Fruit Program aims to increase the types of fruits produced in the nation, create a new national fruit brand by developing effective agro methods, provide people with healthy, organic and quality fruits, and increase sea buckthorn export.
Mongolia has started exporting sea buckthorn oil, tea, juice, and other sea buckthorn derived products to Japan, South Korea, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. The Fruit Program initiators believe that it will help increase the export of sea buckthorn products, create more jobs in provinces, promote small and medium-sized enterprises, supply 15 percent of domestic fruit demand, reduce the import of fruits, protect the environment and fight desertification.
At the end of the meeting, Cabinet members reviewed the annual monetary allowance of former President Ts.Elbegdorj and agreed to provide him with a lifetime monthly allowance equal to the monthly salary of a Cabinet member.
The Head of General Intelligence Agency (GIA) was instructed to provide top priority security to former President Ts.Elbegdorj for four years.