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Armenia International Health Insurance: Healthcare System
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 Armenia,
officially known as the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked
country located in the South Caucasus region. Armenia shares its
borders with Georgia to the north, Turkey to the west, Azerbaijian
to the east, Iran to the south, and Turkey to the west. The
capital of Armenia, and the country’s largest city, is Yerevan.
The nation’s official language is Armenian, while the local
currency is the Dram. Armenia has an estimated population of 3.262
million people, dispersed over a landmass of 29,743 square
kilometres.
Governance in Armenia is in the form of a unitary, multiparty,
democratic nation state. Armenian GDP, according to 2010
estimates, was US$17.27, a real growth rate of 4.7 percent on the
previous year’s figures. Agriculture, industry and services
sectors contributed 22 percent, 46.6 percent and 31.4 percent
repetitively to overall GDP. The average per capita earning was
US$5,800.
Armenia has a labour force of 1.482 million people, 46.2 percent
of whom are engaged in agriculture, 15.6 percent industry and 38.2
percent services. There was an estimated 26.5 percent of the
population living below the international poverty line of $1.25 a
day in 2006. Total expenditure by government on health as a
percentage of GDP in 2008 was 4.4 percent, which equates to a per
capita expenditure on health care of $132.6 (US).
For administration purpose Armenia is divided into 11 marzer
(provinces). The capital Yerevan is one marz with the remaining 10
marz being subdivided into 931 communities. The National Assembly,
or Armenian Parliament, regulates lawmaking and the development of
the nation’s health care system. The Ministry of Health is
responsible for the administration of the overall health care
system and the provision of Armenian medical services. The
functions of the Ministry of Health include: health policy
development and implementation, drafting of publicly-funded health
system budgets, health needs assessments, licensing and regulating
physicians and hospitals, the licensing of pharmaceuticals, human
resource planning, and the central collection and analysis of
epidemiological data.
Primary health care services in Armenia are delivered by means of
regional polyclinics or rural health posts/feldsher stations.
Feldser stations/health posts are in every village; there are
roughly 500 such stations throughout the country. Services offered
include: basic care of children and adults, antenatal care,
developmental checks for infants, prescribing first aid, 24-hour
emergency cover, home visits and preventive services like
immunisation and health education. The services at Armenia’s rural
health posts are nurse-led. An ambulance centre service supports a
cluster of villages, along with a general or family doctor.
A referral system is in operation where by any case beyond the
scope of health posts/feldsher is referred to regional polyclinics
or directly to a hospital. There are 37 regional polyclinics in
operation through out Armenia, staffed by nurses, midwives, a
general physician, an obstetrician/gynaecologist, paediatrician
and primary health care staff. Some of these regional hospitals
offer specialised ambulatory services. Tertiary care services are
predominantly offered at republican hospitals and specialty
institutes in Yerevan. Six paediatric and maternity hospitals are
also located in the capital. At the time of writing there were
three private and one semi-private hospital in operation.
Out-of-pocket payment for health care services is 40 percent of
total health care spending with 10 percent being official patient
charges, the remaining 90 percent covers the cost of unofficial
cash payments for diagnostic tests, medical supplies and medicines
and health care workers. Facilities are considered poor in
comparison to western standards, in particular outside Yerevan. In
many cases the country’s rural health posts will be unable to
offer extensive medical care beyond immediate emergency treatment.
If an expatriate is admitted to one of Armenia’s public hospitals
they should expect lengthy waiting periods before commencing
treatment. Public medical facilities within Armenia can offer much
quicker services, of a higher quality, than their public
counterparts; however, the costs involved with treatment at a
private hospital in Armenia can be extremely high.
Globalsurance recommends that any expatriates or travellers
considering visiting Armenia purchase a comprehensive Armenia
international health insurance policy. In some cases patients may be evacuated
overseas to receive medical treatment, due to a lack of resources
within the Armenian medical system, and as such all Armenia international
health insurance plans should provide an emergency
evacuation benefit.
According to 2011 estimates, the Armenian birth rate was set at
12.85 births per 1,000 head of population, the infant mortality
rate was 18.85 deaths per 1,000 live births, the life expectancy
at birth was 73.23 year for the total population (69.59 years for
males and 77.31 years for females), the total fertility rate was
1.37 children born per woman, and the prevalence rate of
HIV/AIDSwas 0.1 percent in 2009 with an estimated 1,900 people
living with the disease.
Armenia’s climate is highland continental, consisting of hot
summers and cold winters. The terrain is mountainous; there is no
point below 390 meters with Mount Aragats being the highest point
at 4,090 meters. The country lies in an active seismic zone. An
earthquake in 1988 affected the Lori region, injuring thousands
and reducing several cities to ruins.
Violent crimes in Armenia are low, however pick pocketing, bag
snatching, theft from cars and burglary are common occurrences.
There have been reported incidents of shootings related to
organised crime, but foreigners have not been specifically
targeted. Remain vigilant at ATM’s especially after dark. There is
a low level of treat from terrorist attacks.
Border crossings between Armenia and Azerbaijan are closed and one
should avoid all but essential travel close to the Azerbaijan
border. Areas one should particularly avoid are Tavush and
Gegharkunik regions due to reports of sporadic gunfire. The
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office specifically advises
against all travel on the road between Ijevan and Noyemberyan as
it passes close to the border and military emplacements.. If you
intend on travelling between Armenia and Georgia do so on western
routes, or through Lori region. Land borders with Turkey are also
closed.
In order to drive in Armenia you must be in possession of an
international driving license. Road conditions are generally poor,
deteriorating during winter months. Be wary of local drivers as
they flout traffic laws and behaving in a reckless manner. Public
transport tends to be overcrowded and if travelling by train do
not leave valuables unattended in the compartment. The standard of
airlines serving Armenia are questionable, one should avoid flying
on non-scheduled or non-international airlines from within
Armenia.
All visitors to Armenia need a visa; you can obtain one on arrival
at the airports, main border crossing of Bagratashen and Iran, or
over the internet.
If you are considering visiting Armenia and would like to discuss,
free of charge, the range of Armenia international medical insurance policies
available to you, then call Globalsurance today. Our team of
professional consultants can offer you advice on a range of
medical services from dental, maternal, transportation and many
more. Our international health insurance plans are tailor made to
suit all budgets no matter what stage of life you or your family
may be at.
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