The Army Needs Doctors: They Will Celebrate the New Year in the Military

The Ministry of Defense announces the conscription of medical personnel under 35 years old from the reserve of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. This was announced today by Minister Davit Tonoyan during a government meeting, presenting the relevant draft decision.

“The conscription will take place from December 20, 2019, to January 20, 2020, inclusive. Up to 74 specialist doctors will be conscripted. This figure is planned because, if we cannot conscript the required number, it should not be the case that the decision is not fulfilled,” said Tonoyan.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan inquired about what could prevent the recruitment of the necessary number of specialists. “The shortage of doctors with narrow specialties,” responded Tonoyan.

Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan also noted that a new law on military service is causing this issue, which stipulates that future doctors are conscripted at the age of 18 and cannot be drafted as officers. “In fact, there are specialists, but they have already completed their term of service and therefore cannot be drafted again,” Torosyan said.

The Minister of Health raised another issue. He stated that the upcoming conscription from the reserve will involve specialists working in regional clinics, who are the only ones in their hospitals. “We are talking about anesthesiologist-resuscitators. We will ask if it is possible for them to serve in military units close to their workplaces to perform necessary work in hospitals when needed,” he stated.

The decision was approved. About 70 doctors will, in fact, celebrate the New Year in the military.