No Call for Alarm: Ministry Of Health Spokesperson on Health Insurance System Launched on January 1

No call for alarm; citizens are proceeding at a very calm pace. This is a large-scale national reform, and while there may be issues, overall, we do not have significant problems at this time. We have a call center, a hotline, and based on the Minister's instruction, we have also created a Telegram group for doctors to ensure operational communication. This was stated in an interview with Tert.am by Mariam Tsatryan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, referring to the current situation of the health insurance system that started operating on January 1.

“The system was launched on January 1, and citizens have been receiving medical care. The Minister had announced that on the first day, we had approximately 2,700 patient inquiries. Today, we are also visiting some medical institutions; we are currently in Norq Marash, checking in with both citizens and doctors,” she added.

When asked if any issues have arisen since the system was launched, the spokesperson noted that the problems are solely technical. “There may be difficulties; occasionally there might be technical issues related to the Armed system. Sometimes it happens that the clinic doctor may not yet understand how to refer a patient, which is why we have an ongoing call center where both doctors and citizens can call for guidance. Because this is a significant reform, there may also be technical problems,” she clarified.

According to the spokesperson, the insurance coverage mainly includes diseases that pose a significant burden of illness. These include cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and pediatric services for those aged 0-18, while there is a comprehensive package for those aged 65 and over, starting with cataracts, which is the most common disease. “Mainly, urgent and emergency cases are served on-site very quickly, while other surgeries that are not life-threatening at that moment are scheduled for later,” she concluded.