Armenian doctors press for deeper healthcare reforms after modest pay rises

Armenian doctors say small wage increases granted by the health ministry after weeks of pressure highlight deeper problems in the country’s healthcare system, which they argue remains underfunded and reliant on the flawed health insurance system.

In a statement released on Monday, surgeon Gevorg Grigoryan, who leads the Doctor’s Voice initiative, said pay coefficients for surgical and anesthesiology teams were raised following protests. Senior surgical staff will now receive a 21% supplement compared with 15% previously, while anesthesiology staff saw their share rise from 3.25% to 5.2%.

Grigoryan described the changes as a limited victory achieved “under unprecedented administrative pressure”, but warned that the ministry continues to avoid addressing systemic issues. He accused officials of ignoring doctors’ letters and silencing criticism, while many medical workers, fearing dismissal, accept low wages or resort to informal payments from patients.

“The burden of loans, utility bills and daily expenses is forcing healthcare workers to realize that joining the struggle is the only right decision,” Grigoryan said.

He called for broader unity among medical professionals to push for reforms that would balance the interests of doctors, patients and the state. Grigoryan said the fight would be long, but argued that time was exposing weaknesses in the current system and strengthening the case for change.