Measures to improve reproductive, maternal and child health have been implemented in Armenia in the current year. This was noted at Tuesday’s discussion of the 2023 activity report of the Ministry of Health of Armenia, which was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The newborn screening program for adrenogenital syndrome has been developed, which will be implemented in the capital, Yerevan, from early 2024, and then all provinces will be included. Screening will identify infants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. As a result, neonatal mortality rate in Armenia will reduce thanks to early detection of severe forms before adrenal crisis develops.

In 2023, the maternal mortality rate has halved in Armenia, as well as the stillbirth rate, which is the target of the Healthcare Factors-Based Fertility Improvement Program, which fluctuated stably within the framework of 16-19 per thousand (600-850 cases) until 2020, but now does not exceed 11.2 per thousand.

As of November 30, 2023, the number of births in Armenia increased compared to the same period last year (32,926, an increase of 336).

Overcoming infertility is one of the most important goals of Armenia, and at the same time, it is one of the programs that has an extremely high demand among the country’s population. Taking into account all this, thanks to the sharp increase in funding allocated to the program since January, the groups of respective beneficiaries have expanded unprecedentedly. From the start of this program until November 30, a total of 368 children were born, of which 54 were in the families of fallen servicemen.

The aforementioned measures are aimed at one goal: to reach the targets set by sectoral strategies.

Reflecting on reproductive health in Armenia, PM Nikol Pashinyan noted: "Regarding our age policy, are we convinced that we are conducting the right policy? Because there are many cases, especially I receive letters, applications. The problems related to age restrictions sound more acute especially in the families of the fallen servicemen. Are we convinced there that our policies are accurate?"

Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan responded that the respective legislative initiative had already been sent to the National Assembly.

"We are changing two thresholds: We are raising the age of 53 to 55 for IVF [(In vitro fertilization)], and the 35—to 38 for surrogate mother," Avanesyan said.