VIDEO: Medical Sector Workers to be Licensed, Says Avanesyan

The Armenian government has proposed to implement a system of individual licensing for healthcare workers. Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan presented a package of draft amendments to the law on "Medical Assistance and Service to the Population" and related laws during a cabinet meeting.

According to the minister, the licensing system was suspended in 2001, and studies conducted over the past five years have shown a need for the development of human resources. "The requirements for healthcare workers need to be raised to enhance the quality of healthcare services. With this draft law, we propose to introduce a system of two types of licensing. The first, transitional licensing, will apply to students in residency programs. This is an important step to enable them to gain practical and work experience during their studies. These are the current requirements for the educational system. Within the framework of this transitional license, residents will have the opportunity to engage in professional activities under the supervision of a doctor, improving their skills," Avanesyan detailed.

The minister noted that the licenses will be granted for a period of five years. Transitional provisions are also planned to prepare the healthcare system for such extensive reforms. "Individual licenses for residents will begin to be issued from January 1, 2024, and then the system will be fully operational starting January 1, 2026," she stated.

According to Avanesyan, licensing will be carried out in a testing format. "It will be provided upon verification of certain skills and will continue after five years unless there are grounds for suspension," she explained. The minister clarified that grounds for license suspension could include medical errors, violations of ethical standards, and failure to meet certification requirements.