Armenian medical body blasts government for drafting doctors into army

A1+ web site
7 Dec 04

Members of the public organization called the Armenian medical
association have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Armenian
government’s decision to call up reserve officers from the first
group of medical personnel for military service. Incidentally, the
decision applies even to those holding an academic degree (PhD or
doctor) and have three or more children.

“We doubt the correctness of such decisions because it is not clear to
us how the Armenian armed forces can experience a shortage of medical
specialists. The ranks of the Armenian armed forces have been joined
by graduates of the medical-military department of Yerevan Medical
Institute for 10 years,” the statement said.

The problem of the lack of medical personnel should have already been
resolved, but the Armenian Defence Ministry says every year that it
needs 70 doctors. A question arises where the ministry’s personnel
are disappearing.

Under these circumstances, doctors are ready to cooperate and if
necessary help the Armenian government and the Defence Ministry
by submitting constructive suggestions on ways out of the current
situation. Members of the Armenian medical association have sent an
open letter to the Armenian president, the prime minister and the
speaker of the National Assembly.