AMIC’s Newsletter, Montreal, Canada
AMIC’s Info-Flash
2340 Chemin Lucerne # 30
Ville Mont-Royal, Quebec
H3R 2J8, Canada
Web:
Email: [email protected]
December, 2011
Article 1: Creation of an important new body enhancing Cardiology and
Oncology in Armenia Article 2: Annual and/or General Activities’ Reports of
some AMIC member associations
Article 1: Creation of an important new body enhancing Cardiology and
Oncology in Armenia
Call for Interest to join the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
Advisory Board on Cardiology and Oncology
The National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA) invites
applications for qualified professionals for joining the newly established
Advisory Board on Cardiology and Oncology
The mission, goals and proposed activities of the Advisory Board and the
responsibilities of its members are presented in the document below.
If you would like to submit your candidacy to become an Advisory Board
member, please send your curriculum vitae to the National Competitiveness
Foundation of Armenia at [email protected]
Personal information that you provide is protected by the NCFA and will
specifically be used only to evaluate candidates and select the NCFA
Advisory Board on Cardiology and Oncology.
-About the Competitiveness Foundation
The National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia is an independent,
result-oriented development organization chaired by the Prime Minister of
Armenia. Our board of trusteesconsists of six international business
leaders, six high-level representatives of the Armenian Government, and the
head of the World Bank in Armenia.
The NCFA is an independent entity founded through a partnership between the
Government of Armenia and a group of leading representatives of the private
sector from the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the Middle
East. The NCFA’s mandate is to achieve breakthrough developments towards
national competitiveness in key areas of economic activity. The NCFA is
tasked in this project with developing strategic plans and coordinating the
implementation of the project; attracting financing for the project through
state budget allocations, private investments, and loans; and acting as a
liaison between state agencies, private investors, public entities,
financial institutions, and international organizations.
Gevorg Yaghjyan MD
National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
5 Mher Lazarian Street, suite 821
Yerevan 0010, Armenia
Tel: +374 10 58 35 21, +374 10 58 91 93, Ext. 107
-The NCFA Advisory Boards on Oncology and Cardiology
Healthcare is now at the cross-roads of social and economic sectors. While
quality healthcare is important for the population’s well-being, it also has
tremendous impact on the economy and wealth creation. Higher value jobs can
be created, infrastructure can be upgraded and both specialist skill sets
and technology can be harnessed to improve the quality of care for patients.
The National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA) plans to establish
Advisory Boards on Oncology and Cardiology consisting of prominent
scientists and high-ranking leading professionals in the corresponding and
adjunct fields. The Advisory Boards’ aim is to induce the creation of
national wealth by reaching excellence in oncology and cardiology, and to
create centers of excellence which could turn the country into a regional
power in providing state-of-the art health care in the aforementioned
sectors.
More specifically, the Advisory Boards will contribute to the development
of an economic growth agenda for given sectors to create a value-driven
system in Armenia focusing on better quality, affordability and access to
services, enlarged public and private participation, improved financing of
the system and promotion of implementation of projects based on
public-private partnership (PPP) approach.
In terms of deliverables, there should be a two-level output encompassing
both sector-specific development strategy and a related project roadmap
which involves practical measures for implementation of policies outlined in
the strategic part. More specifically, the Advisory Board has to address the
following issues:
STRATEGY and POLICY
– Shaping and development of the public policy agenda in the areas of
oncology and cardiology
– Recommendations on institutional capacity building, human resources and
infrastructure development
– Implementation of value-based health plans that measure actual results
and encourage more efficient care
AGENDA
Value Chain:
– Definition of a value chain proposal in the areas of oncology and
cardiology
Quality Standards:
– Development of new, Western-style quality standards, quality enforcement
and improvement mechanisms
– Capacity-strengthening to ensure safe, affordable, and high-quality health
products
Medical Insurance
– Outlining transparent and efficient private insurance systems, creating
grounds for high quality and affordable services and maintaining a strong
private-market driven system
– Expanding the coverage and enhancement of the benefit package of a
private-market-focused insurance system to effectively reduce the financial
burden to individual families
Hospital Management
– Recommendations on hospital management and organizational structures and
relationships among service providers with the purpose of increasing access
to personal health services
– Recommendations for fiscal and managerial autonomy of hospitals so that
quality of care is improved, hospital operations are cost efficient,
revenues are enhanced, dependence on budget allocations are reduced and
services are improved
PPP framework
– Development of major strategic private-sector driven through the
public-private partnership framework. Projects shall aim at establishing an
upgraded services platform for better service delivery for local and
international patient base.
– Project shall be defined and developed in terms of rationale, actions,
enablers, funding and impact.
Article 2: Annual and/or General Activities’ Reports of some AMIC member
associations
Last May, AMIC sent a questionnaire to its member associations asking for
information about their activities in Armenia. The questionnaire’s aim was
to gather data to be used during a special session at the 3rd International
Medical Congress of Armenia and devoted to the Diaspora medical activities
in Armenia. As that special session did not take place, we thought that it
would be useful to end the year 2011 with an Info-Flash producing the
reports of the associations which did respond to our request. (We have
published the nurses’ activities report in a previous issue). Some reports
are longer than others. One was translated from Armenian and two others from
French. We hope that the length of this last issue of the Info will not
upset you too much. Reports sent by non-member associations or by
Foundations will be published in the coming issues.
1- UMAF/Paris activities
The “Union Médicale Arménienne de France” (Armenian Medical Union of France,
better known as UMAF) was created in 1975. With the Californian association
(AAMSC), UMAF is one of the “biggest” member associations, in terms of
affiliated members, of activities either locally or in Armenia, of social
and cultural initiatives/events, and, finally of regular participation to
AMIC’s meetings and congresses. It is worth mentioning that it is also one
of the biggest regular contributors to AMIC’s annual budget.
Although UMAF has 400 members in its database, only 200 pay their membership
dues. Since 1979, the association has been active in Armenia. During the
last two years, UMAF has been working to complete the equipment of a mobile
dental bus (see the previous November issue of Info-Flash) worth 60,000
Euros (two years’ budget). They also have a program called “Glasses to
Armenia” (Glasses are made and given on site in the rural regions of
Armenia), with a budget of 12,000 dollars/year.
UMAF has one dispensary in Spitak and one in Norashen (Karabagh): the
medicines and employees’ salaries are paid for by UMAF. Surgical material
and other medical equipment are sent to Yerevan’s and Karabagh’s hospitals.
After the 1988’s earthquake, the most important investment was made in
Yerevan’s Erebouni hospital.
All in all it is estimated (based on the annual projects achieved in
Armenia) that from the beginning UMAF has initiated and finished 70 to 80
projects in Armenia and Karabagh together.
UMAF has received around 100 technicians and physicians for re-training in
France; it still does, although it is much more difficult to obtain entry
visas nowadays.
All this information was received from Dr. Edouard Muratyan, UMAF’s
president. According to the information gathered from UMAF’s website, on
December 16’s planned dinner, Dr. Georges Mosditchian was to succeed Dr.
Muratyan. All our thanks to Dr. Muratyan and AMIC’s president and Executive
members congratulate Dr. Moskitchian for his election..
PS: Contrary to what was written in the November’s issue of Info-Flash
UMAF’s dental bus was not given to the Lori region. The bus belongs to UMAF
and all the expenses are paid for by UMAF. Info-Flash apologizes for the
misunderstanding.
2-The Armenian American Medical Society of California: A History of
Innovation
What drives our mission?
The AAMSC was founded in October 1985 by a group of Armenian-American
physicians who believed it was necessary to ally Armenian healthcare
professionals in order to cultivate professional relationships and
contribute toward the improvement of health services rendered to the
community in Armenia and the Diaspora. The membership number is roughly 400.
Activities in Armenia/Karabagh started in 1988 and approximately US $
800,000 were spent on nine projects. Ten health care professionals from
Armenia followed training sessions in California.
a- Projects in Armenia
– AAMSC Juvenile Diabetes Project
The AAMSC Juvenile Diabetes Project has been operating in Armenia since 1993
under the leadership of Dr. Mark Nazarian. Uncontrolled diabetes can result
in heartbreaking consequences, including loss of consciousness, dehydration,
kidney failure, strokes, blindness, and poor circulation that could lead to
infection and amputation. Insulin remains a high-priority medication that is
in short supply in Armenia. Insulin is purchased and shipped to Armenia
every year through the support of the AAMSC, the medical community and
pharmaceutical companies. As a result, the incidences of these
life-threatening complications have dramatically declined. The AAMSC has
also been working through a government-sponsored program to ensure that
supplies and medicine are provided to all diabetic children free of charge.
– Shenkavid Hospital Project
In the mid 1990s, the AAMSC undertook the Shenkavid Maternity Hospital
Project. This project was inspired by Dr. Bedros Kojian, an OB/GYN
specialist from Orange County who has also served as president of the AAMSC.
Every year since the clinic’s inception, Dr. Kojian has returned to the
hospital to perform surgeries and to train the staff in the latest
laparoscopic techniques. With the AAMSC and Dr. Kojian’s efforts, the
laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, radiology, and “Thomas and E.J.
Tracy Family” assisted reproductive technology departments have been
established.
– AAMSC Paediatric Epilepsy Project
In January of 2003, through the efforts of Drs. Armen Cherik and Mark
Nazarian a paediatric epilepsy program in Armenia was established. Since its
inception, the paediatric epilepsy clinic in Yerevan has hired a full-time
paediatric neurologist and nurse, and the AAMSC has shipped equipment, books
and anti-seizure medications to Armenia. Today, thousands of children are
receiving care and medication free of charge at the clinic.
– Rural Health Clinics
The AAMSC has also established clinics in three villages that border with
Karabagh and Azerbaijan – Aregouni in 2005; Pokr Mazrik in 2006; Tsapatagh
in collaboration with the AAMSC Ladies Auxiliary in 2007 – in order to make
the war-torn region more habitable. Each clinic has a full-time nurse who
provides care to patients throughout the week, and a physician visits each
clinic at least once a week. The clinic in Aregouni also provides dental
care to patients. The clinics are managed by the region (marz) and the mayor
(marzbed), and the federal government pays the salaries for the physicians
and nurses. In 2008, the AAMSC began construction of a fourth clinic in the
remote northeastern village of Voskevan, which has been in dire need of a
medical clinic for fifteen years.
– Mobile Diagnostic and Therapeutic Unit for Artsakh
In 2009, the AAMSC in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Artsakh
purchased a mobile diagnostic and therapeutic unit. This unit was donated
to the people of Artsakh so that remote villages in this mountainous region
can be accessed by healthcare workers. This multipurpose mobile facility
has been a tremendous help to these villagers and has alleviated the burden
of traveling many hours to Stepanakert, especially during harsh winter
conditions.
b- Projects in California
In addition to the numerous projects in Armenia and Artsakh, the AAMSC has a
strong tradition of holding local activities to benefit the health of our
communities and the professional development of our members.
– Annual Health Fair
In collaboration with the City of Glendale, the AAMSC hosts the Glendale
Health Festival. With an estimated 1,500 people participating in the
festival, the AAMSC promotes significant healthcare education and services
to the Glendale Community. Over 400attendees receive cardiovascular disease
screening tests; 350 receive diabetes screening; more than 200 eye health
exams are performed; more than 100 women receive vouchers forfree
mammography; more than 50 women receive free Pap smears for cervical cancer
screening; more than 500 individuals take advantage of the medical
consultations and meet with various health care professionals; 200 free flu
vaccines are administered; approximately 75 individuals participate in
various educational lectures and demonstration on Exercise and Nutrition and
Preventing Colon Cancer; and over 700 healthy and balanced meals are served.
– Professional Development
As part of its mission, the AAMSC offers monthly Continuing Medical
Education (CME) courses to its members, as well as an annual nine-credit
course that takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada. These courses allow physicians
from a variety of fields to maintain their competence while educating fellow
healthcare practitioners about the advances in their field.
– “Your Health” Educational Television Show
“Your Health” TV Show Continues to Make House Calls for Armenian Community
AAMSC’s groundbreaking program, “Your Health”, airs on Mondays from
7:30-8:00p.m., and features physicians and healthcare professionals whose
areas of practice cover the entire spectrum of allied healthcare. “Your
Health” is a dynamic resource for viewers interested in improving their
health. The program emphasizes the importance of preventative care, and
focuses on how people can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“Your Health” is hosted by AAMSC’s President, Dr. Vicken Sepilian. Miss
Hasmik Keyribarian sent this report to AMIC: with all our thanks and best
wishes for the association’s future activities.
3-Armenian Medical Association-Great Britain [AMA-GB]
The Armenian Medical Association of Great Britain was established about
twenty five years ago. Very soon after its establishment, Armenia
experienced the tragic earthquake of 1988 and the Association was of immense
assistance to the relief operation from the UK by securing and checking huge
quantities of medical supplies and equipment for airlift to Armenia.
Objectives and Activities of the AMA-GB
a- To raise health awareness among the Armenian community in the UK.
AMA current members list is 75 of medical and affiliated members. The group
meet about three times a year. Lectures with invited local or visiting
speakers are organized: the memorial Lecture in winter and another special
lecture in spring. The group also gets together for summer social gathering
like barbecue or wine testing.
– To assist and support overseas Armenian medical professionals who would
like to
obtain further qualifications and/or pursue a career in this country. Senior
members of AMA regularly scope to identify overseas newly arrived medical
professionals. The purpose is to advice and assist, act as mentor and
provide direction if necessary
– To advise on and support health care in the clinical and academic
disciplines in the
Republic of Armenia. AMA members regularly welcome and support the clinical
and academic medical professionals from RA:
– March 2010, official visit of vice rector of YSMU, Dr Gevorg Yaghjyan to
Professor Lord Darzi’s unit, at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington London for
collaboration and learn about his innovations and robotic surgery.
– visiting lecturers to YSMU [Dr Seda Boghossian-Tighe [primary care] and
Dr Liza Stanton [psychiatry].
– Dr Ara Nahabedian regularly attends and trains junior doctors in
orthopedic surgeries in Yerevan hospitals and supplies medical equipment to
various hospitals in Yerevan and Gyumri.
– Members are involved in supporting and furnishing the YSMU library.
– Members are involved in setting up schools [Aramus village of Abovian]
medical units and financial support to the newly appointed school nurse .
b- To maintain as a member society communications with the Armenian Medical
International Committee (AMIC) and participate in its activities.
c- To provide a basis for social events to its members and their families
The above information was provided by Dr. Seda Boghossian-Tighe, president
of the AMA-GB.
4- The Armenian Medical Association of Quebec (AMAQ).
Founding members met in 1975. Born in 1976, the Association adopted its
current official name. AMAQ has about 200 members. It has been contributing
to Armenia and Karabagh since 1993-1994.
a- Projects and activities in Armenia
After the 1988 earthquake, besides donation of medications and supplies,
several medical residents came to Montreal and were trained in psychiatry
(Dr. R. Kouymjian) and in oto-rhino-laryngology (Dr. J. Manoukian)…
-Establishment of Laparoscopy unit in Malatia Hospital. That was completed
with the donation of 1, 15 tons of equipments and the training of physicians
and surgeons in Montreal and in Armenia.
-Half million dollars worth of medication was delivered to Armenia on April
1995 in collaboration with MAP International.
b- Help to Karabagh
-In 1994-1995, shipments of First aid kits, of medical equipment (EKG,
Ultrasound) and 260,000 doses of Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccines were delivered.
-Since 2003, in collaboration with Toronto’s ACMAO, AMAQ participated to
Hadrout Dental Clinic’s renovation, provided dental supplies and salaries
and ensured a free quality dentistry to Hadrout’s population.
c- Local activities
-Each year prizes are offered to the best schoolchildren in Science among
those attending Armenian schools.
-Career Day in Health Sciences is organized in these schools.
-Finally Public Education lectures by health-care professionals are
organized each year.
All our thanks to Dr. Sero Andonian, AMAQ’s president who sent this report
to AMIC’s office.
5- Activities of the UMAF/Lyon association
UMAF/Lyon is the “sister association” of UMAF/Paris but has its own
independent activities, its own Executive and its own membership. The
association has 180 health-care professionals, however only 25 are paying
members. In 1984, UMAF/Lyon started its activities in Armenia/Karabagh.
Since its creation, 18 projects have been achieved in Armenia/Karabagh;
-UMAF/Lyon has been very active in receiving health care professionals for
training in the city’s hospitals. Contrary to other associations, trainees
are still invited to Lyon and more than 15 physicians have been re-trained
in the city’s hospitals.
-For the last years, the association’s activities have been mainly
concentrated in Karabagh, specifically on the Regional Hospital of Shoushi.
Renovation of the building, of its laboratories, shipment of medicines, of
medical equipment and of hospital furniture were initiated and are now
gradually bringing the hospital to the modern standards of international
healthcare facilities.
The information given above has been gathered from the association’s website
and Dr. Jean-Daniel Kirassian has added his own detailed numbers.
6- Summary of the activities of the Armenian Medical Association of Germany,
1991-2010
The association was created in 1990-1991 in Frankfurt. Currently it has 80
members. AMAG has been active in Armenia and in Karabagh and has mainly
collaborated with the Ministers of health. The association’s average annual
expenses is equivalent to US $ 10,000 but thanks to donations, medicines,
medical equipment and furniture to hospitals cost annually in US $ 200,000.
a- Activities in Armenia.
-From 1992 to 1997, AMAG chose to help the Ararat hospital (40kms away from
Yerevan), by sending medical equipment to the premature babies department,
fuel (when the country was lacking all kind of energy sources). The chief
gynaecologist was invited to a re-training session in Germany.
-Concomitantly, Ophthalmology polyclinic number 4 in Yerevan was equipped
and over the years medicines worth US $ 2 to 3 million were sent at the
request of the Ministry of health of Armenia, including for the treatment of
Tuberculosis. Arabkir’s hospital received equipment for children’s dialysis,
and Noyemperian’s hospital was completely renovated.
b- Karabagh
-In 1997, at the request of the Ministry of health of Karabagh, six
ambulances were sent to Karabagh, while supplying medical equipment to the
polyclinics of Mardakert and Stepanakert.
-Twice annually, medicines are sent to Karabagh villages. In 2011-2012, 10
Karabaghi physicians will come to Germany (city of Goettingen’s hospital) to
receive one month training in their specialties.
Dr. Margrit Assoyan-Link sent this report to AMIC. All our thanks and our
wishes for a fruitful 2012 year.
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