DIASPORA ONLY SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR ARMENIA’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 28 2007

YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. The Diaspora is the only source of support
for Armenia’s healthcare system, President of the Armenian Medical
International Committee Jean Arakelyan stated at the opening of the
2nd international medical congress in Yerevan.

According to him, the reason is the medical celebrities in the Armenian
Diaspora, who are ready to contribute to the development of Armenia’s
medical sphere.

The Diasporan medical associations and their unification is of
importance for the consolidation of Armenia’s healthcare system,
Arakelyan said.

He pointed out that the Diaspora is ready to support Armenia in
implementing the "Armenia without Cigarettes" program as well as
to study further opportunities for implementing various cooperation
programs.

Speaking of the medical congress being held in Armenia, Arakelyan
pointed out the necessity for holding similar congresses in the
countries with Armenian communities, which will allow foreign
specialists to be connected with Armenia’s medical system.

He reported that the 10th congress of doctors from the Armenian
Diaspora is to be held in New York in 2009.

Among over 2,000 prospective the participants in the congress
are specialists from Armenia, the NKR, Russia, the USA, Canada,
Great Britain, Germany, France, Iran, Lebanon, Romania, Australia,
Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium and Argentina.

The 1st international medical congress was held in 2003.

Regular medical congresses have been held outside Armenia since 1974
on the initiative of the Armenian Medical International Committee
(AMIC). The last, 9th, congress of Armenian doctors was held in San
Francisco, USA, in 2005.