The mandatory health insurance policy for 2008 will have a price of 1,893.6 lei, which is by over 50 percent higher than this year’s. This provision was included in the Law on Mandatory Health Insurance Funds for 2008, adopted in first reading on Thursday. The draft was backed by the Communist legislators and criticised by the Opposition. Under the draft law, the persons who will pay the insurance premium within three months from the date of the entry into force of the Law will pay just half of the price, that is 946.8 lei. The draft also raises the insurance premium, expressed as a percentage of the monthly salary, from 5% to 6%. The sum shall be equally split between employer and employee. Opposition legislators criticised the draft law. Democrat MP Dumitru Ivanov complained about the low wages of the health professionals and poor working conditions. Alexandru Oleinic, a legislator representing the Moldova Noastra Alliance Party, stated that the bill represents the failure of the health care reform. He also protested against the high price proposed, which makes the policy unaffordable for certain categories of people. Christian-Democrat MP Valentina Serpu signalled the large amount of money planned as expenditure and the lack of transparency in expenditure planning. She also advocated for the need to create an alternative health insurance company. The draft was backed by the Communist legislators. Vladimir Eremciuc praised the health insurance system for contributing to better medical services, adding that more and more categories are enjoying free policies, and more and more drugs and medical services are covered by the policy. The mandatory health insurance policy in 2007 costs 1,209 lei, by nearly 400 lei dearer than last year. Premiums rose from 4% of the monthly salary in 2006 to 5% in 2007.