Expert Discussion Held in Yerevan on “Healthcare Reforms and the Implementation of the CEPA in Armenia”

An expert discussion titled “Healthcare Reforms and the Implementation of the CEPA in Armenia” was held within the framework of the EU-supported project “Support to CEPA:  the Implementation, Communication and Monitoring” implemented by GOPA-PACE.

The event aimed to foster a transparent and open professional dialogue between policymakers responsible for sectoral reforms, civil society organizations, and independent experts. The goal was to understand the challenges currently facing real transformative changes in Armenia’s healthcare system, particularly within the framework of the Armenia-European Union Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

During the discussion, the Ministry of Health of Armenia presented the work already accomplished under the Agreement, while active civil society actors shared their insights and evaluations concerning the ongoing healthcare reforms. Participants discussed the current issues and challenges facing the sector and outlined possible ways to address them.

The discussion covered a range of sectoral topics, including ongoing measures in the fight against cancer, healthcare accessibility (in the context of universal health insurance, which includes several subtopics such as improving service quality, training of medical personnel and system readiness), the development of an electronic health system, and palliative care.

A separate topic of focus was the CEPA roadmap’s “performance” in the field of mental health, particularly the formulation and measurability of its actions, the issue of accountability, and the link between actions and outcomes. Important recommendations for mental health reform were presented.

Participants emphasized the importance of introducing universal and mandatory health insurance and discussed joint efforts to implement this vital strategy and its related actions.