Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday issued Legislative Decree No. 45 for 2011 ordering the establishment of a Syrian joint-stock company for health insurance. The new company is called Cham Company for Health Insurance. This is another step by the regime in order to ease growing domestic tensions amid a wave of poplar unrest,
According to the decree, the company enjoys administrative and financial independence.
Yallafinance.com website reports that the total capital of the company, estimated at SYP 500 million (1 USD is equal to about 47 SYP), will be financed by the Syrian General Insurance Company, the Syrian Holding Investment Company and the General Organization for Social Insurance.
The Syria leader also issued Legislative Decree no. 46 for 2011 on including all the state, public sector and popular organizations retirees, involving civil and military workers, in health insurance, at the retirees’ option. The state general budget bears 62, 5 percent of the annual health insurance premium, while the retiree bears the rest, deducted from the pension.
Meanwhile, al-Assad named Adel Safar as the new prime minister. These steps come following a deadly weekend, when at least 10 protesters who called for reforms and freedom were shot dead by security forces.
