Armenian doctor criticises health insurance system over pay, technical failures

Armenia’s mandatory health insurance system must function effectively and address existing gaps rather than become a source of public frustration and ridicule, a doctor said during a discussion on the reform on Monday.

Speaking at a forum titled “Mandatory Health Insurance in Armenia: Risks and Unresolved Issues”, physician Gevorg Grigoryan said the medical community has for an extended period identified numerous concerns with the system, ranging from technical failures to inadequate remuneration for healthcare workers.

“The medical community has long recorded multiple problems with the health insurance system, from technical breakdowns to ultimately insufficient compensation,” Grigoryan said.

He described the proposed payments for medical staff as “funny”, arguing that healthcare workers should not be expected to shoulder significant professional responsibility without adequate compensation.

“With such payments, medical workers should not be placed under such responsibility,” he said, adding that the responsibility borne by physicians is among the highest in any profession worldwide.

Grigoryan said the challenges were diverse, including as violations of patients’ legally enshrined rights and concerns over the legislative process under which the law was adopted.

He stressed that experts broadly support the introduction of health insurance, saying it is crucial for Armenia’s population, but warned that the system must operate effectively.

“This discussion and posts on social media are not aimed at derailing the system,” he said. “They are aimed at ensuring that the system functions efficiently. Ultimately, our population stands to benefit from the proper operation of the entire system. The system must be effective, not become an epicenter of complaints, laughter and trolling.”

Grigoryan said the medical community has put forward proposals to address existing shortcomings, though it remains unclear whether the authorities will adopt them.

“The insurance system is necessary for the population, but it must be functional, solve problems rather than create new ones,” he said.

He added that if competent authorities address the deficiencies, critics would be ready to praise the system. If not, members of the medical community – as practicing physicians working daily in the country – would take further steps, details of which would be announced later.

Among the obstacles to effective implementation, Grigoryan cited physician salaries, technical shortcomings in the ARMED electronic health system and the absence of price lists and coding systems in roughly half of medical centers.