Doctors are unequivocally in favor of introducing a universal compulsory health insurance system in Armenia, but its implementation has already caused problems in our country. Dr. Elizaveta Grigoryan stated this during a parliamentary debate on the issue of a universal compulsory health insurance system.
“We are glad that newcomers don’t have to pay for medical care out of pocket, but it must be noted that at the same time, salaries for medical workers in both public and private medical institutions have decreased,” she said.
According to her, an insurance system cannot be sustainable if it doesn’t ensure job stability for doctors.
“Today, the methodology for paying medical workers has changed to the detriment of the medical workers themselves,” she noted.
Speaking about more significant problems, Grigoryan noted that doctors are given only 15-20 minutes to examine a patient, prescribe treatment, and enter all this information into the “Voruzhen” system.
“In reality, doctors spend much more time, which means the quality of medical care suffers in such conditions.”
According to Grigoryan, salaries for primary care workers are particularly low.
Elizaveta Grigoryan also warned that if these problems aren’t properly addressed, the system could face the risk of specialist attrition.
“I’ve been teaching at YSMU for 16 years. Our best graduates study German. Do you know why? So they can continue their careers abroad,” she said.
According to the doctor, it’s encouraging that Armenian specialists are achieving success in Europe, but another reality must be acknowledged:
“Our university trains doctors for Europe and the United States. And the main reason they leave for Armenia is low salaries.”