Report on Healthcare Activities Implemented in 2019 Presented to the Prime Minister

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, a government meeting was held to discuss the report on the healthcare activities implemented in 2019 as part of the RA Government's action program for 2019-2023.

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan presented the performance of all 14 activities carried out in 2019. Specifically, the report covered efforts related to promoting a healthy lifestyle, combating the most prevalent diseases, improving the quality of medical assistance and services provided to the population, increasing the accessibility of prenatal medical assistance, ensuring high-quality healthcare in rural areas, and advancing the electronic healthcare system.

Arsen Torosyan also detailed ongoing work concerning comprehensive health insurance, the development of the national tuberculosis management program for 2021-2025, and the revision of legal requirements related to drinking water in Armenia. The Minister indicated that the National Immunization Program for 2021-2023 is in the drafting stage, alongside the government's decision to approve the list of priority measures of this program.

The Minister reported that since January 2019, approximately 400,000 citizens from socially vulnerable and special groups, as defined by the RA Government's decision No. 318-N from March 4, 2004, have been able to benefit from an improved hospital care package, which includes 18 types of new costly services. From January 2020, funding for medical care services for soldiers, rescuers, and their families, as well as maternity medical assistance services, and urgent heart surgeries is conducted on a non-restricted budget basis, based on the actual work performed.

Medical treatment for patients with malignant tumors has been completely covered by state orders since January 2019, which has resulted in an increase in applications by 3.4 times. From July 2019, radiation treatment using medical linear accelerators with a power of 15 MeV and above is fully provided under the state order, whereas it was previously conducted on a co-payment basis. Since the program's launch, 1,024 sessions have been performed.

Since April 2020, the poverty threshold for families eligible for medical assistance has become “28.01,” instead of the previous “30.01.” The availability of free heart surgeries, conducted under the state order, has increased the volume of surgeries by 22 percent. From March 2020, prenatal care for expectant mothers has improved, expanding the range of examinations for high-risk pregnancies, thereby reducing reproductive losses, including spontaneous abortions, intrauterine deaths, stillbirths, maternal and perinatal mortality, congenital anomalies of the fetus, and ensuring a higher rate of successful pregnancy outcomes.

In 2020, a contract was signed with the leading global insulin producer, Danish company Novo Nordisk A/S, which allows for uninterrupted provision of insulin medications to approximately 20,560 insulin-dependent patients registered in Armenia and Artsakh between 2020 and 2022. For children and adolescents suffering from oncological hematological diseases, instead of the previous 14 medication names, 25 different medications will be procured starting February 2020. So far, 12 types of oncological drugs have been purchased and are provided free of charge to the relevant patients.

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan also addressed the five-year development strategy for the Armenian healthcare system, noting that it is in the drafting stage and will soon be presented to the Prime Minister's Office.

Overall, Prime Minister Pashinyan expressed satisfaction with the results of the Ministry of Health's activities, noting that the issues in the sector are strategic and their resolution should be addressed through the adoption of the aforementioned strategy and the implementation of the measures outlined within it. The Government leader emphasized the importance of continuous efforts to enhance the efficiency of primary healthcare, ensure accessibility of medical services, and fully implement electronic systems within the healthcare system.

The meeting also addressed the current situation related to COVID-19 and the organization of further work in that direction.