Questions and Answers About the
"Building a Healthy Armenia" Program

What is the "Building a Healthy Armenia" program?

When undertaking a project in Armenia, SHARED decided to focus on the most important resource is the country's health care system - its dedicated and well-trained medical professionals.  Identifying ways to help doctors and other members of the health care community work better and more economically is the goal of our program.  SHARED believes that doctors can prescribe medicines that are less expensive than the ones currently prescribed and achieve the same or better clinical outcomes for the patients - all while saving the hospital money.  This money can be used to buy additional medicines or pay for other hospital expenses.

Of course, patients must be willing to change their habits as well.  In interviews with patients, we are trying to determine if they will accept lower cost but equally effective treatments.  And of course, we must ensure that the alternative medicines are available to doctors and patients.

Who are the other members of the team working in Armenia?

SHARED's partner on this program is the Samariter Hospital in Gyumri, Armenia.

SHARED is working with the doctors and patients at the Samariter Hospital in Gyumri and its Director, Dr. Rafayel Khachatryan.  The study has been designed and is being conducted in Armenia by Armenians under the direction of the on the ground team from International Relief and Development.

What are some of the health problems faced by the Armenian people?

As in all countries in the world, Armenia's poorest people suffer the most. According to UNICEF, more than 55% of the population lives in poverty. Families with children under the age of 5 are especially vulnerable. Chronic malnutrition among children under the age of 5 rose from 12 % in 1998 to 14% in 2000. For every 1,000 births, 25 children die at birth, many from lack of access to prenatal and postnatal preventive care.

Malaria has re-emerged as a public health threat with over 1,000 cases reported in 1998.

Cancer is on the rise, especially lung cancer associated with smoking. In 2002, the Armenian Health Care Ministry reports the number of smokers in Armenia has increased, especially among women and teenagers. About 60 percent of Armenian males, 36 percent of women and 35 percent of teenagers are smokers.

According to UNICEF figures, there are about 1,500 HIV-positive persons in Armenia. This number is expected to steadily increase.

What is the current status of the Armenian health care system?

The health care delivery system in Armenia is undergoing tremendous change and, through the commitment of its leaders in the private and public sectors, is transforming the infrastructure to improve the workings of that system. The transition has been a difficult one. Beginning in 1991 when Armenia left the Soviet Union, the health care system began the shift from medical care provided in a centralized hospital based model to a decentralized system where health clinics and consumers play a greater role. With the economic difficulties that followed the separation from the Soviet Union, resources are inadequate to provide health care services, conduct needed research and develop the infrastructure needed to revamp the health care system.

Health care services and medicines are provided by the government of Armenia, the private sector such as pharmacies, and the public sector including nongovernmental organizations that provide much of the medicines distributed in Armenia. These sectors are operating independently on parallel tracks.

How is the "Building a Healthy Armenia" program different from other health care projects?

The "Building a Healthy Armenia" program focuses on what Armenia has in abundance - talented health care professionals.  By working with them on a specific problem - which medicines to prescribe and at what cost - we will be able to identify ways for the hospital to save money.   Bringing patients into the process is essential because the project depends on the cooperation of those patients.  And we will work with the hospital to ensure a steady stream of medicines.

What is SHARED doing to raise funds for this research program?

SHARED is launching a major fund raising campaign to support and participate in this health care research program. Over the past year, special events have been held including a concert at the Tsai Performance Center, Boston, Massachusetts by Armenian cellist, Suren Bagratuni.  The Armenian folk-ensemble, Arev, have generously donated their time and talent for two funding raising concerts.  SHARED sponsored an exhibit by artist, Sara Ashodian, who donated a sculpture that was auctioned with the proceeds going to benefit SHARED. 

What can I do to support the "Building a Healthy Armenia" project?

Your generous support of our efforts is extremely important to the success of this campaign. The funds raised as part of the "Building a Healthy Armenia" program will be used exclusively for the work we do as part of this project in Armenia.

We urge you NOW to make a tax-deductible contribution to help with our efforts. Please visit our Contribution page to print a coupon that can be mailed to us or to make a secure online donation.

The sooner you make your tax-deductible contribution the sooner a person in Armenia will receive urgently needed medicines!

Thank you and please visit this site again soon for updates on the
"Building a Healthy Armenia" program!

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