Hasmik says, her main motivation at all levels of learning all the way from baccalaureate to doctorate has been to gain knowledge and experience that would later serve to the development of the healthcare system in Armenia.<\/p>\n
Hasmik kept her finger on pulse of events in Armenia and was well aware of the problems existent in the healthcare system of Armenia, even when she was in Moscow. To support Armenian doctors studying in Moscow, Hasmik and her friends [including her non-Armenian peers], initiated the Armenian Medical Association. The association organized workshops and meetings with established professionals for young Armenian doctors, and created opportunities for duty shifts in Moscow based medical centers.<\/p>\n The war in 2020 changed a lot, including the perceptions she had about the industry and made it clear to her that working with doctors in Armenia and Artsakh was a priority. \u201cAs the war erupted, I felt unable to do anything in Moscow, and so, I came to Artsakh that December. That was my fifth visit to Artaskh and the first one following the war. I have first been to Stepanakert when I was 26, and I had feelings there I never had anywhere else. I felt I was finally home\u2026,\u201d Hasmik recalls.<\/p>\n After moving to Armenia, Hasmik started studying the deep-rooted problems of the country\u2019s healthcare system. Hasmik decided she would be travelling to regional medical centers at least once a month to get to know their operation better.<\/p>\n In Yerevan, though, she joined the center, which, she believes, works by a model best fit to her understanding of it. The doctor has already visited 5 regional medical centers since moving to Armenia. She says, the mapping of the problems helps her understand that there is an urgent need to improve management approaches in the healthcare system.<\/p>\n The fact is, in the last 3 years (2019 through 2021) the budgetary funds allotted to the healthcare system have grown in average by 27.4%, against 2018; in 2021 the share of healthcare in the budget was equal to 8%. Yet, the quality of medical services lags dramatically behind.<\/p>\n \u201cA quality healthcare system is always grounded on proper and efficient management. If the head of a medical center does not have enough management skills, the resources at hand cannot be distributed properly,\u201d Hasmik believes.<\/p>\n The demographics of a country highly depends on the quality of healthcare. To ensure demographic growth in a long-term perspective, a healthcare system capable to provide the growth is needed. Hasmik says, the only way to reach that goal is to have a national strategy for healthcare development, a truly national one, localized to meet the needs of the country: \u201cNational strategy has no alternatives. It includes protocols of treatments; and instead of applying a general protocol, it is preferable to opt for the one that is closest to our needs, and is surely localized,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n The young specialist says task groups are needed to keep direct contacts with regional doctors. We have to reach a point, where patients in regions have an opportunity to get timely and proper treatment in their local medical centers.<\/p>\n Involvement of Diaspora Armenian doctors in the development and efficient organization of healthcare system, pediatrician Hasmik Aharonyan says, is fundamental.<\/p>\n Daily analysis of statistical data provided by medical institutions is vital for assessment of efficiency of the medical centers globally.<\/p>\n Hasmik says, she clearly understands introduction and development of such practices in Armenia is going to take time and effort, but a doctor\u2019s performance is assessed against data such as the number of hospital beds, prescribed antibiotics, and diagnoses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ampop.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Hasmik_3.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/p>\nWhere to start?<\/h3>\n
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