Home laboratory tests are not included in the mandatory social insurance package in Armenia, Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan stated during the working debates in parliament Friday, as she was answering an online user's question that was read during the debates.

In particular, the aforesaid user had noted that a fee is still charged in Armenia for home medical examinations of people with disabilities. For example, a medical checkup of a person with a first-degree disability costs 14,000 drams, the procedure itself takes only about 10 minutes, while their monthly pension is only 39,000 drams.

Avanesyan said that these lab tests were previously fully paid for by the patient, but are now included in the insurance package if they are performed in appropriate medical institutions. However, home visits by medical personnel are not yet included in the standard package, as they require additional logistical costs.

“We are studying the possibility of solving the problem when a person is physically unable to leave the house. However, this has not yet been included in the standard package,” the Armenian health minister noted.

Avanesyan touched also upon the matters of medical assistance in Armenia for people with disabilities and seriously ill patients. During the debates, the case of a cancer patient with a second-degree disability was raised, and it was asked whether this person could receive medication within the framework of his insurance package.

The health minister confirmed that such patients are considered insured, and the annual reimbursement for chemotherapy drugs within the framework of the medical insurance package in Armenia is up to 1.2 million drams.

“Patients can check which drugs are included in the insurance package and purchase the necessary medication,” added the Armenian minister of health.