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It is proposed not to extend the mandatory requirement to have a continuing professional development (CPD) certificate to the mid-level and senior medical professionals forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh after September 19, 2023, until January 1, 2025. The First Deputy Minister of Health Lena Nanushyan said this during the NA regular sitting, presenting to the parliamentarians the draft law on Making Addendum to the Law on Medical Care and Service to the Population in the first reading on November 11.

The Deputy Minister of Health noted that in order to provide medical care and service, senior and middle-level medical professionals must have a document certifying their work permit, a CPD certificate, according to the RA current legal regulations. In each 5-year cycle, 220 CPD credits are required for the senior health care professionals, 160 for the pharmacologists, 140 for the mid-level health care professionals, and 100 - for the pharmacists.

“As a result of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, medical professionals who were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh do not have CPD certificates, because there was no certification institute in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Deputy Minister said. She informed that the draft is urgent, so she asked the parliamentarians to approve it within 24 hours.

The deputy of Armenia Faction Armenuhi Kyureghyan considered the draft important and mentioned that the Faction will vote for it. The deputy inquired whether the Government will take measures to make the collection of the CPD credits free of charge and what the Government plans to do for the 100 thousand Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The full volume of the medical care provided to the local residents is also available for our compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the Government's decision, our compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh are considered a special group for which all the services are available,” Lena Nanushyan said.

Touching upon the issue of the medical professionals who were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and did not have a CPD certificate, the Deputy Minister assured that the Ministry of Health is implementing several measures for them. She noted that the Ministry of Health is aware that about 1.500 senior and mid-level medical professionals have worked in Nagorno-Karabakh, but, nevertheless, their registration is being carried out, during which all the educational needs are highlighted.

According to the rapporteur, from September 19, 2023 until today, up to 100 medical professionals forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh received certificates, 700 medical professionals were sent to educational institutions for training free of charge. By the end of the year, 1.200 medical professionals will be given the opportunity to be trained in educational institutions with state funds.

The co-rapporteur, the member of the Standing Committee on Health Care Hripsime Hunanyan stated that the draft was debated in the Committee and endorsed.

The Parliament adopted the draft law by voting.