VIDEO: Are Diabetics Denied Medications Due to Not Being Vaccinated? Minister Responds to Auroranews Report

The Minister of Health of Armenia, Anahit Avanesyan, addressed a report by Auroranews regarding the refusal to supply medications to diabetics who are unvaccinated.

As we have previously reported, health workers at the outpatient clinic in the town of Ashtarak have not been providing state-funded and free medications to residents with disabilities or those requiring regular medications since last week. They cited instructions from the Aragatsotn regional governor’s office not to distribute medications until citizens are vaccinated. This issue was raised on December 24 by two residents of Ashtarak.

“I was literally told, ‘the seal is in the chief’s office, until you get vaccinated, you will not receive any,’” one of the concerned residents from Ashtarak stated, adding that they were forced to get vaccinated to receive free diabetes medications provided by the state. They also noted that no checks were conducted during their vaccination visit.

We reached out to another affected citizen, who mentioned that they did not receive their medications and are not planning to get vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health stated that no such order had been issued, and for information regarding regional outpatient clinics, it was necessary to contact the regional administrations.

Auroranews.am contacted Meri Shahazizyan, head of the Health Department of the Aragatsotn regional administration. In response to a question about whether there was any instruction or directive prohibiting the distribution of free medications to residents, she indicated that they only encourage vaccination.

The health department head seemed to deliberately avoid the question and evaded giving a clear answer. When we clarified the question about whether there was an order not to provide medications to individuals with disabilities if they refuse vaccination, she stated that there was no such order, directive, or instruction.

The information department of the regional administration later confirmed that there is no such instruction or order.

We also contacted Karine Minasyan, head of the outpatient clinic in Ashtarak. However, she confirmed that they do have an instruction from the governor's office not to provide medications unless the patient presents a vaccination certificate. “Everyone gets vaccinated sensibly, but those with genuine issues do not get vaccinated, yet they still receive the medications. We can only fight the infection through vaccination,” she remarked.

Although people's views on vaccination are contradictory, experts continue to assert that vaccination remains the only way to combat this infection. However, it is unacceptable and illegal to deny individuals with disabilities or those requiring regular medications their legally entitled medications, endangering their health, and justifying such actions as a means of protecting the patient's health.

It turns out that this move is part of the anti-pandemic policy, and Auroranews.am will remain vigilant to ensure that responsibility does not fall on the health workers executing the orders from the governor's office, such as the outpatient clinic director or other subordinate health workers, who followed the directives and communicated this clearly to the residents while the regional administration employee was avoiding responsibility and evading the questions.