NEW ALARMS: Citizens are Denied Access to Medications Unless Vaccinated

On December 27, we reported that health workers at the polyclinic in the city of Ashtarak have been denying residents with disabilities or those who regularly take medications access to state-provided, centralized, and free medications since last week. They claim there is an instruction from the Aragatsotn regional administration not to provide medications until citizens are vaccinated.

“I was literally told, 'The seal is in the head's office; until you are vaccinated, you cannot receive,'” said one of the residents who raised the alarm, noting that they had to get vaccinated to obtain diabetes medications provided for free by the state.

Another affected citizen stated, “We have not received the medications, but we are not going to get vaccinated.”

We continue to receive reports from various regions and communities regarding this issue. Citizens are reporting that the same problem exists in Stepanavan and Gavarr.

Auroranews.am contacted the polyclinics in Stepanavan and Gavarr. The deputy director of the Stepanavan polyclinic, Ruzanna Grigoryan, confirmed that they have internal instructions, with the goal of vaccinating diabetics, as they are considered a high-risk group for the coronavirus pandemic. Paruyr Kuroyan, the director of the Gavarr polyclinic, was surprised to hear the inquiry and hastened to respond that he has not received any orders and thus has not given any to his subordinates. He stated that even if he received such an order, he would not comply since it is illegal and jeopardizes patients' health.

We remind that on December 27, Karine Minasyan, head of the Ashtarak polyclinic, also confirmed that they have an instruction from the regional administration, stating that they do not provide medications unless the patient presents a vaccination certificate. “Everyone smartly goes to get vaccinated, but those who really have issues do not get vaccinated; however, they do receive medications. We can only fight the virus through vaccination.”

Auroranews.am also reached out to Sona Harutyunyan, the spokesperson for the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. The spokesperson insisted that such an instruction or order had not been given by the ministry to the regional administrations. Harutyunyan admitted that it is unacceptable to deny residents medications.

“The ministry will investigate the issue and will communicate with the regional administrations. Yes, the vaccination process is very important, but it is unacceptable to withhold medications from people and force them to get vaccinated,” said the spokesperson for the minister.

It appears that orders are being issued from the regional administrations, making this a systemic problem, as it is not isolated to just one regional administration. Although the ministry insists it is unaware of the policies adopted by the regional administrations, it raises the question of whether they are acting autonomously without coordinating their actions with the ministry.

Auroranews.am will continue to ensure that responsibility is not shifted onto the healthcare workers implementing these orders, such as the head of the polyclinic or any other subordinate healthcare worker, who have followed the directions from the regional administrations. During conversations, both the healthcare workers and residents clearly conveyed this information, while employees of the relevant government agencies have tended to evade questions or outright deny the claims.