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Yerevan 2010

Introduction

Based on the analysis of the current situation in the health care system and following identification of the main problems that require radical reforms, the Armenian National Congress hereby presents for public review the main concepts of the reforms in the health sector. 

Current demographic and health indicators in Armenia raise concern and may pose serious threat in future. Such diseases as cardio-vascular diseases and malignant neoplasm continue to make predominant share in the total mortality and maintain growing trends. The level and quality of health services provided to population is unsatisfactory. State funding of the health sector is insufficient; the existing system is not feasible and quite cost consuming. Health sector is financed exclusively through the state budget and from out-of-pocket payments, while presently most of the world countries are widely using the mandatory health insurance schemes. Level of corruption and spread of shadow turnover raises serious concerns. Society does not recognize the existing social system as a state guaranteed health protection, irrespective of the social status of a person.   

The health system should not be viewed as a mere provision of medical services and care, but it also should envisage disease prevention and health promotion.  The strong and viable health system is the major prerequisite for the improved health conditions, as it can help save lives of people. To that end, the state should do its best in order to create efficient system, which would ensure further economic growth and higher living standards. It is unacceptable that people due to deteriorated health and/or for the reason of recovering it will find themselves on poverty line.

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PROPOSAL/PROGRAM FOR A SYSTEMATIC REFORM OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC POLICIES

The Armenian National Congress presents for public consideration ‘100 Steps', a systematic proposal for social-economic reform which has as its fundamental goal the radical reform of the economic system created in Armenia, and the creation of a sustainable economic development with the active participation of the people. The essence of the current system is the ultra concentration of economic resources in the hands of a few oligarchs and their extended families, and the exploitation of state levers to secure that group's extraordinary gains. Illegal tax and customs permissions, monopolies, servicing of the extravagant gains of importers by an artificial evaluation of the Dram and trampling of the rights of property ownership, have caused a dramatic decrease in production and a tragic decrease in export, free market competition, as well as unfounded increase in costs and a general fall in business activities and the economy, bringing about daily worsening of the social-economic condition of the population. The transfer of the basic burden of taxes on small and middle-level business and the arbitrariness of state bodies suffocate business enterprises based on private initiatives, suppresses the population's creative energy and faith in its own strength, bringing about emigration and poverty.

Radical reforms are imperative to change the current situation. Only the mass popular movement which does not depend on or is obliged to the oligarchs, is in a position to come forth, in the name of the people and development of the state, against the current system and with the necessary consistency to actualize such systematic changes. The Armenian National Congress is ready to submit to the judgment of the people a program which shows that the Congress is not simply limited by assurances of political will to pass such reforms, but also has very concrete solutions and mechanisms to actualize those goals.

The proposal for the reform of social-economic policy is presented by the decision of the political council of the Armenian National Congress. The proposal was prepared by the economic committee of the Congress, under the direction of Hrand Bagratyan's scientific leadership, and includes the proposals and observations of the political parties which are members of the Congress.

The document presented below shows only general approaches to social-economic and structural policies. It includes the position of the Congress in fiscal, monetary, financial policy, encouragement of business, and fundamental problems of social policy. Only agriculture from the section on rural economic policy is represented here, bearing in mind the tragic condition created there as a result of the politics of the past 10 years. Policies on economics, public life, and other spheres of governance (industry, trade, services, health, education, science, social security and insurance, environmental protection, tourism, sports, youth, law-enforcement, armed forces, the Judiciary, state and self government) will be published later, one by one. >>> Read the whole program