The “Elimination of Corruption in the Health Sector and promoting the Necessary Steps for it” project has the objective to fight against corruption and to eliminate it in the obstetric and pediatric departments of Vanadzor medical complex. The project is implemented in the framework of “Multifaceted Anti-Corruption Promotion” project.
During this grant project surveys were carried out among 300 citizens and medical workers.
“Selen” Journalists Club in cooperation with “Loru Mig” LLC conducts the survey. Ms Narine Khachatryan, President of “Selen” Journalists Club said in the interview with Iravaban.net that the medical personnel are engaged in corruption mainly due to the low salaries.
“The medical workers consider existence of corruption risks among the personnel in the low salaries. Eighty people from a group of 100 respondents see the problem in it, however on the other hand the doctors in obstetric department are paid duly, but they wonder that the corruption risks are numerous.”
According to the President of the NGO the problem has the following nature, “In case of the traditional form of childbirth, the state provides 106 thousand AMD. While in case of cesarean section the payment is 160 thousand AMD. I think that the corruption risk is just here, and the state funds evaporate, because in case of any minor problem they apply because it is a minor problem related to caesarean section, and a clear example is the fact that 6 of the 15 patents underwent caesarean section.”
She also said that after introduction of the certificates the corruption risks in Patient-doctor relations have decreased.
Whereas the patients mentioned in the questionnaires that they again pay money, but this time not to the doctors but to the junior personnel.
During the survey the respondents mentioned about the low salary of the doctors as well, “They say that the salary of the doctors is low, and that is why the doctors expect money. They do not ask directly, but make hints about the bribe,” Ms Khachatryan completed.
The “Multi-Faceted Anti-Corruption Promotion” project co-funded by the European Union and the OCSE and is implemented by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) in cooperation with the “Freedom of Information Center” NGO.
