Why No Healthcare Worker Was Awarded from the 'Nork' Infectious Diseases Hospital

The newspaper 'Past' reports that on September 19, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, based on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's recommendation, awarded a group of healthcare workers in recognition of their contribution to the prevention, control, and treatment of the coronavirus pandemic with the 'Mkrtich Kheraz' medal.

Notably, none of the awardees were healthcare workers from the 'Nork' Infectious Diseases Clinical Center, who have borne the main burden of the fight against the coronavirus from day one.

According to 'Past', this primarily stems from strong personal motives. It seems that the recommendation to award healthcare workers comes from the Ministry of Health, and the minister, Arsen Torosyan's attitude towards this clinic is, to say the least, not positive. The controversial process of merging the National Center for AIDS Prevention with the 'Nork' Infectious Clinical Hospital, as well as the resignation story of the hospital's director, Mher Davidiants, and his subsequent clarifications, speak volumes about this situation.