In an interview with Detq News Agency, Samvel Kharazyan, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Health Insurance Foundation, spoke about the growing demand for healthcare services, the increased workload of primary healthcare providers, the introduction of digital solutions, and efforts to expand access to the system.
According to Kharazyan, the introduction of the system has led to a significant increase in the number of people using healthcare services. In response, the workload standards for family physicians, general practitioners, and pediatricians have been revised. These changes have enabled more efficient queue management and the provision of services to a larger number of beneficiaries. Physicians are also increasingly involved in patient data registration, referrals, and follow-up monitoring. To reduce this administrative burden, new digital solutions are being developed, including artificial intelligence-based tools designed to automate certain administrative processes.
During the interview, Kharazyan also addressed the development of preventive healthcare. He noted that electronic tools have been introduced to allow citizens to independently schedule screening examinations, while dedicated screening rooms are being established within medical organizations.
Speaking about pharmaceutical coverage, Kharazyan stated that approximately 1,300 pharmacies currently cooperate with the Fund. Alongside the expansion of the pharmacy network, new medication reimbursement mechanisms have been introduced to provide citizens with greater flexibility and convenience. Under the new mechanism, individuals can choose among different medicines containing the same active ingredient while benefiting from a transparent and understandable reimbursement system. This is particularly important for people living with chronic conditions, who often prefer medicines from specific manufacturers based on trust or individual tolerance.
Discussing the future development of the system, Kharazyan emphasized that the Fund’s objective is to ensure broader access to essential healthcare services across all regions of Armenia. Another key priority is strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors. To this end, collaboration with private insurance companies continues in the development of supplementary insurance packages and complementary insurance coverage mechanisms.
According to Kharazyan, the Universal Health Insurance system continues to evolve, responding to the needs of both citizens and healthcare system stakeholders.