OPTIMIZATION OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEM UNDERWAY

[MosJan]

OPTIMIZATION OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEM UNDERWAY

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: A government-drafted program, supposed to raise the efficiency of Armenian health care establishments, approved last February 5 is underway, involving all Armenian provinces and the capital Yerevan. The core of the program lies in reducing the number of berths in hospitals and merging several establishments in one.

Thus, restructuring and merge of several health care establishments in the province of Armavir has made available some 7,750 square meters of free space. In the province of Vayots Dzor the number of berths was reduced from previous 405 to 170. In the province of Shirak the number of berths was reduced by 48 percent.

The implementation of this, so-called optimization program in the province of Aragatsotn will free the old building of the town clinic in Artik which will be then used for improvement of housing conditions of several insecure families. The dentist clinic in the administrative center of the province, town of Ashtarak, is included on the list of to be privatized companies.

Children clinics in the towns of Berd and Noyemberian have been merged with a clinic for adults. In other provinces the process of making inventory of facilities, buildings and other technical means is underway.

The government's plan of optimization of health care system has been strongly criticized by medical personnel of virtually all health care establishments who claim that it is leading to mass sacking in the sector rising the already high level of unemployment.