“For many years, the health sector has been considered one of the leading sectors in the corruption perception index. There have been some positive changes in the last 3-4 years, which are mainly due to the increase in funding for the health sector. Nevertheless, there are a number of corruption risks in the sector, which are reflected in the anti-corruption strategy,” Movses Aristakesyan, the President of the “Center for Economic Rights” NGO Movses Aristakesyan, a member of Governing Board of the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia, Iravaban.net.
According to him, corruption risks are expressed in several directions: in systemic, medical-patient relations, and in medical organizations.
“Systemic corruption risks come from inadequate state funding. The low percentage of public order financing leads to various corruption manifestations. The second reason is that the regulatory framework is very weak, it has not been improved yet. The regulations of the healthcare organization have serious gaps, which are reflected both in the procurement process and in the prices of healthcare services and other similar relations,” he said.
According to Movses Aristakesyan, the relations between the medical staff and the “client” are very important. There should be no psychological effects on these relationships․ “Patients that are cured under state-funding think ‘we should pay them so that they provide quality services.’ It is a very bad manifestation, it must be eradicated. The state should consider regulating both paid services and raising the prices of state-funded services. ”
According to him, it is important to introduce medical and economic standards in the country, which will be used in both paid and state-funded services.
“To solve these problems, it is very important to introduce a system of compulsory health insurance system, which is now called comprehensive health insurance. Every citizen should know that he has already paid and he can get assistance in the scope his package. It should be understood that the state order is not free either, that is why the citizen makes payments to the budget, in fact, this is state insurance,” the specialist says.
Movses Aristakesyan emphasizes that salary reform will help to reduce the risk of corruption, as doctors currently have high expectations of patients due to low salaries.
“They are doing a great job, they are fighting for the most expensive thing – health, and they must be properly paid. For example, I was recently treated at “Izmirlian” Medical Center. I did not notice from any of the medical staff that they expected additional payment, no one expected or and looked forward for such a thing. I think it is connected with the management of the medical staff. They do their job properly. I especially want to thank the head of the Department of Urology, Arthur Grabski, and the staff under his leadership for their professional and honest work,” he said.
