D. Dumanian: 259 doctor vacancies in provinces

The Minister of Health Derenik Dumanian summarized today the healthcare sphere’s indices. He spoke about construction of regional hospitals, noting that the process of upgrading regional hospitals is underway. Next year it is planned to start the construction of a regional medical center in Meghri and the repairs of the Kapan medical center, a well as to upgrade medical centers in Alaverdi, Abovian, and Berd.

“Construction of modern medical centers in provinces will not solve completely the existing problems; the problem of providing regional hospitals with narrow specialists needs to be solved,” Dumanian said, adding that the marzes (provinces) face the problem of medical personnel shortage, the distribution of the personnel is very disproportionate: there are currently 259 doctor vacancies in Armenian marzes.

The minister said they have submitted a proposal to the Armenian government to revise the proportion of next year’s state budget allocations to hospitals for the provision of medical aid under the “state order” system. The proportion should be revised in favor of marzes. Mechanisms are being developed to increase financing of regional policlinics by up to 10%.

“Ten Syrian Armenian doctors have been involved in the system”, the minister said.

According to him, a new Law on Drugs has been adopted. Dumanian stressed that the law improved the drug purchase mechanism and will contribute to healthy competition in the sphere and availability of high-quality drugs.