Why the National Cancer Center Did Not Provide Patient with Free Medications

The Fanarjyan National Cancer Center did not provide a patient in the intensive care unit with medications that should have been given for free. This was reported to Tert.am by Aris Vagharchakyan, whose father, Garnik Vagharchakyan, recently passed away in the hospital.

Aris Vagharchakyan stated that the medications in question are Minoven and Hepatoprin. “The issue is not about the money, as we bought them for our father; this is just another illegality of this hospital,” he said.

Vagharchakyan recounted that during this time, necessary examinations were also not conducted. According to him, on July 4, after the second chemotherapy, his father felt unwell, but the doctors advised that he receive home-based drip therapy, after which the patient's condition worsened. Relatives insisted on hospitalizing the patient.

According to Aris Vagharchakyan, after spending 5 days in a paid ward, neither a CT scan nor a colonoscopy was performed, and the medication “Zoladex” was administered, while it later turned out that the patient was experiencing toxicity.

Tert.am learned that there is a decree from the Minister of Health dated July 4, 2019, which states in its third annex that if the cost of a medication does not exceed 15,000 drams, it is to be provided to the patient for free.

“As stated in the third annex of the decree dated July 4, 2019, the prices do not include metallic constructions, prostheses, and also medications exceeding the value of 15,000 drams per unit (e.g., an ampoule, etc.), except for those used for anesthesia,” the decree states.

Tert.am clarified that the price of Minoven and Hepatoprin does not exceed 6,000 drams—Hepatoprin is 5,300 drams, while Minoven ranges from 6,000 to 6,500 drams. Thus, the hospital is obligated to provide these medications, as they do not exceed the set threshold of 15,000 drams.

In relation to the issue, Varuzhan Shahsuvarian, the deputy director for medical affairs at the Fanarjyan National Cancer Center, told Tert.am that they received the relevant decree but clarified that there might be circumstances where the hospital did not have the medications available at that moment.

“It is possible that in an urgent situation, there was a demand, and the relatives bought them themselves. Also, according to Armenian legislation, we are required to announce a tender so that the hospital can have the medication, but it is not possible to announce a tender immediately after receiving the decree. The tender has already been organized but is still in process,” Varuzhan Shahsuvarian detailed.

It should also be noted that Aris Vagharchakyan has filed a report with the Investigative Committee of Armenia regarding the death of his father, Garnik Vagharchakyan, where a criminal case has been initiated.

Attached are the receipts for the medications purchased by the relatives that should have been provided for free.