SECOND STAGE OF "MODERNIZATION OF HEALTH SYSTEM" PROGRAM HAS STARTED

Noyan Tapan
Oct 16 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The second stage of the
"Modernization of the Health System" program, which is envisaged to
finish in 2012, has started. The program is being implemented since
2004, its total value makes more than 29.6 million dollars, 22 million
out of which has been provided by the World Bank in the form of credit.

According to the information provided by Sergei Khachatrian, the
Head of the Program Implementation Office under the RA Ministry of
Health, during the meeting held on October 16, the aim of the second
stage is to support the modernization of the regional health systems
of Armenia, in particular, as well as the strengthening of their
governing capacities. According to him, it is envisaged to spend 10
million dollars for the implementation of the program in 2008 instead
of the 4 million dollars of 2007.

Sergei Khachatrian mentioned that one of the components of the program
is the optimalization of the regional hospital system. According to
him, the aim is to improve the quality and availability of hospital
services in the regions of the republic. In his words, a space of
about 70 thousand square km will become free as a result of the
optimalization of the medical institutions in regions. The value of
this component of the program makes approximately 20.8 million dollars,
within the frameworks of which repair of hospital institutions,
allocation of modern medical equipments, as well as equipments and
appurtenances rendering harmless medical waste will be implemented.

Haroutiun Kushkian, the RA Minister of Health, gave a positive
estimation to the results of the first stage of the program. He also
stated that the repair work of the central hospitals of Hrazdan and
Ijevan will start in November.