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A number of institutions provide higher medical education in Armenia. The topic, the idea around which we have gathered today, refer to the order of higher graduation exams and its control. It is proposed to hold joint final exams as a control toolkit. The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care Narek Zeynalyan said this during the work debate organized on the topic Regarding the procedure, methodology and proper control mechanisms of medical education graduation exams.

The NA deputies, representatives of the RA executive body, medical universities, and other concerned organizations took part in the debate held on March 7.

The Committee Chair noted that all the students of medical institutions should take exams. It is expected that the quality of education provided by various medical institutions will become visible as a result of joint final examinations.

The Vice-rector for Educational Affairs of Yerevan Mkhitar Heratsi State Medical University (YSMU ) Larisa Avetisyan informed that this issue had been raised 2 years before, the relevance and importance of the issue had been emphasized from different perspectives. Many debates took place, during which it was proposed to hold a joint examination in at least one of the three stages of the final certification. In other words, in order to exclude the human factor, at least one of these three stages should be conducted jointly under state control. The issue was discussed in detail with the representatives of other non-state medical universities, who responded positively to the proposal. It is designed that those who have successfully passed the stage of the joint examination will be able to apply for a residency.

The Deputy Minister Armen Gasparyan presented the positive opinion of the RA Ministry of Health on the issue.

Summarizing the debate, the Committee Chair Narek Zeynalyan noted that the proposed amendment does not aim to question the education of any university providing medical education. Simply, according to him, the state should control it because it issues a state sample diploma.

The participants of the debate mentioned that not only local, but also many foreign students are getting education in the state and private universities of Armenia, who return to their countries with the acquired knowledge.

It was agreed to continue the work. It is planned that the unified final exam for students of institutions providing medical education will be implemented at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.