Under What Circumstances Can Children Not Access Free Medical Assistance?

The Ministry of Health has issued a statement clarifying under which circumstances children under 18 cannot benefit from free medical assistance.

One of the recent changes in the government decision on "Guaranteed free and preferential medical assistance and services by the state" pertains to the organization of hospital care for children under 18 years of age. This initiative has expanded hospital medical assistance for children under 18 (regardless of social status) and has included specialized and difficult-to-access diagnostic tests, as established by the Minister of Health's order No. 53-N on September 20, 2013, within the framework of state funding, at medical organizations that have concluded a state contract.

At the same time, not only has the age group for children expanded from under 7 years to under 18 years, but the types of medical assistance have also increased, incorporating innovative and expensive technologies in various hospital services that were previously provided to these groups on a paid basis. In particular, this includes endovascular treatment for cerebrovascular diseases, interventional and open-heart surgeries, arthroscopic surgeries, the cost of metallic constructs (plates, screws, and wires) used in trauma surgeries, lithotripsy for kidney stones, and more.

It should be noted that the current changes do not apply to dental care services and laboratory-instrumental studies and consultations provided in specialized medical centers (hospitals) for the purpose of diagnostic verification. These services continue to operate for children under 7 years old and also for socially disadvantaged and special category children aged 7-18.

Planned hospital medical assistance for children under 18 years old, specialized and difficult-to-access diagnostic tests performed in an outpatient setting, as well as laboratory-instrumental studies and consultations for diagnostic verification purposes conducted in professional medical centers (hospitals), are provided based on referrals from primary health care organizations serving children.

Citizens can contact the State Health Agency of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia for complaints, questions, clarifications, and information regarding children's medical assistance and services at (060) 80 80 02, (010) 65 47 11, as well as through the Ministry of Health’s hotline at (010) 52 88 72 or 8003.