On June 15, the Armenian National Congress (ANC) presented a healthcare program.

“Since the Armenian authorities have no certain program in any field, the ANC has assumed this function,” ANC Coordinator Levon Zurbyan told a press conference.

According to him, the program is agreed with 18 member parties of the ANC and proceeds from 100 Steps program declared by the Congress.

Besides, Zurabyan added that the ANC will finalize its program on education and science soon and will submit it to the public.

For his part, former Prime Minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratyan noted that the healthcare program is in compliance with 100 Steps program adopted by the ANC. He added that the program consists of the following steps: funds will be provided through vouchers to people and not hospitals; gradually a system of compulsory medical insurance will be established, so that people make payments to a healthcare fund; the healthcare industry will be controlled by the state through standards established by it; preventive medical policy will be pursued.

Commenting on the voucher system, Bagratyan said that, according to the new healthcare program, after diagnostics, hospitals will be providing people with vouchers describing their diseases and treatment cost. After this, people will have the opportunity to decide where they want to be treated through this voucher, while hospitals will not be receiving any funds from the Ministry of Finance.