Thursday, 7 July 2011
Prime Minister Attends International Congress of Armenian Doctors
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan took part in the opening ceremony of the 3rd international congress of Armenian doctors at the Yerevan State Medical University after Mekhitar Heartsi, attended by 600 doctors from Armenia, Diaspora and Artsakh.
The head of government delivered an opening address.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s Statement at Opening Ceremony of 3rd International Congress of Armenian Doctors
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and myself, I am welcoming all congress participants. This congress has a special value not only because it is devoted to the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia, but also because it coincides with the programs and priorities of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
It is not a secret that at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Armenia a ministry of Diaspora has been set up for the first time in our history. The rationale behind the establishment of this ministry is that in the 21st century the world gets smaller from day to day obliging us to create more effective structures enabling mobilization of the potential of Armenians worldwide and, from this point of view, we consider this congress first of all as a rally of our nation’s intellectual potential. I am convinced that pan-Armenian forums and congresses like this have a bright future.
The second major factor for us is that public health services is an exclusive globalizing sphere where cooperation on a global scale is needed. We can see ever-growing integration processes in the sphere of healthcare: new standards and discoveries are being introduced every day.
We are convinced that the congress will help us reveal such innovations in the frame of those numerous topics to discuss, as well as to put this knowledge to the service of the Armenian people.
The agenda of congress is diverse: from the organization of public health services to purely professional issues. It testifies that the Armenian doctors and healthcare experts are present in all the spheres of the system of public healthcare. In this sense, we are obliged to funnel our intellectual toward the challenges faced by the Republic of Armenia. I wish to inform you that the Government of the Republic of Armenia has undertaken bold reforms in the sphere of public health services.
We already have significant achievements. Let us remind the introduction of the system of free-of-charge obstetric aid which has been widely supported and appreciated by the population. Our polls testify to it. In this sphere we have quite serious progress as we provide not only free-of-charge obstetric aid, but also high quality services. I should also evoke the free-of-charge health services for children under the age of seven which may help us tackle the serious welfare and healthcare problems.
A new system is taking root in the first aid system: modernization is taking place and the population feels the difference. At the same time, we can state that some of the services are benefited not only by the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, but also Armenians from the Diaspora who appreciate both the quality and the pricing of services.
It will remain a priority to us. First of all, we shall try to expand the scope services provided to our compatriots from the Diaspora. At the same time, I wish to inform you that we have started to implement a new council of national competitiveness-supported program implying establishment of a center for treatment of cancer diseases within the framework of public-private sector cooperation.
The government of the Republic of Armenia has signed a corresponding agreement with the Government of Belgium on the financing of a nuclear accelerator project to provide the center with the needed rare isotopes.
It will be a modern center to a total cost of USD 50 million. I also want to inform you that we are going to invite private investors to take a share in the project.
It seems to be important that we have serious intellectual potential in the field of physics that will allow us to run the accelerator. This one of our competitive advantages in science, and we do belive that the synergy of physics and medicine will yield positive results.
There are many initiatives of reform in sphere of public health services. Recently the healthcare ministry has introduced a new concept of co-financing to enable State procurements of public health orders at market prices. It will create a competitive field in the sphere of health services, supposed to curb corruption in the country.
You may understand that it is a far-reaching reform that will take us much effort. From this point of view, I am convinced that the proceedings of the congress section of organization of public health services and the study of the international know-how will be interesting to us.
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased that the congress involves many representatives of young generation to provide the country with process continuity.
Wrapping up my statement, I want to thank the participants of the congress for participation in this important pan-Armenian event. I wish you fruitful work.
Thank you.
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The congress is organized with the assistance of the Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia.
The purpose of this 3rd International Congress of Armenian Doctors is to promote sustained development of linkages and the ties of cooperation between Armenian doctors worldwide by discussing major issues relevant to the medical science, applied medicine and medical training, as well as by promoting exchange of experience and scientific achievements of modern medicine for the sake of qualitative improvement of medical aid in Armenia and Artsakh.
