Studies of the complaints
addressed to the Human Rights Defender in 2020 demonstrate that having full
access to medical care is problematic in Armenia in terms of lack of the type
of medical care necessary for the population and geographically unbalanced
solutions.
For example, in rural
areas, because of the lack of specialized doctors, medical equipment and
supplies, people have to spend extra money to receive medical care in the
provincial centers, mainly in the capital.
Complaints addressed to
the Defender serve as evidence that issues related to the accessibility of
health care, especially for vulnerable groups, continue to remain on the
agenda, even though polyclinics are free of charge for all. The vast majority
of the citizens avoid receiving service from polyclinics, reasoning it by the
distrust toward doctors and the ineffectiveness of medical care.
Complaints were addressed
to the Defender about the fact that in case of receiving medical care within
the framework of the state order, the patients face indifferent, sometimes rude
treatment, and receive low quality medical care, either due to the
unavailability of expensive medicine or the lack of attention.
References were made in
2020 Annual Report the Defender regarding the alarming-calls received from
patients in times of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic on them not
receiving antibiotics, getting different test results or issues related to the
improper implementation of hospitalizations, which were also resolved through
the support of the Defender.
For example, patients
with coronavirus infection and confirmed pneumonia were unaware of their right
to receive medication.
The representative of the
Defender informed that the medication should be obtained from the polyclinic
where the patients are registered.
In another complaint, the
applicant reported that his father's health condition was deteriorating because
of the new Covid-19 infection, but his hospitalization was unnecessarily
getting delayed. The doctor assured the Defender's representative that they had
not been able to contact the triage center for several days so as to arrange
hospitalization for the patient. they noted that, with difficulty, they
eventually managed to contact the center and reported the patient's data, and
that they are currently waiting for instructions. In turn, the triage center
also provided information to the Defender's Office on the systemic problem of
the lack of spare beds in the center and the unclear terms for the possible
hospitalization.
The study of such
complaints served as evidence that the organization of hospitalizations was not
implemented in a coordinated manner, as sometimes patients in extremely serious
conditions were hospitalized later than some other patients, who simply had
greater "connections".
Under these
circumstances, according to the Human Rights Defender, the solution to the
problem would be the introduction of Compulsory Health Insurance, which will
form a new social institution, as well as a new approach to financing medical
services. The introduction of the Institute of Compulsory Health Insurance will
ensure the accessibility of health services for certain groups of the
population, with the condition of mandatory participation.
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