Telemedicine is now legal in Armenia, how to make it a routine clinical practice?
Ohannessian R, Oganesyan T, Gevorgyan A, Chaltikyan G, Terzan L, Hovhannisyan M. Telemedicine is now legal in Armenia, how to make it a routine clinical practice? J Public Health Policy. 2024 Jul 24. doi: 10.1057/s41271-024-00512-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39043874.
Main results
Armenia’s early adoption of telemedicine began with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) collaboration following the 1988 Spitak earthquake, providing critical medical support.
The 2022 legalization of telemedicine by the Armenian Ministry of Health marked a significant step toward improving healthcare delivery. Current regulations only apply to doctors and lack clear terminology for different telemedicine interactions, highlighting the need for broader and more inclusive policies.
Despite regulatory progress, telemedicine adoption in Armenia faces challenges such as insufficient digital literacy, infrastructure, and integration into medical education and practice.
Impact
To further promote the national adoption of telemedicine in Armenia, the Ministry of Health has to update the existing telemedicine regulations, define a national telehealth adoption strategy, support implementation of key national projects, and promote initial and continuous education about telemedicine.
Additionally, a digital health innovation policy enhancing public–private collaboration with startups and industry should include these activities. These initiatives should be strategized and prioritized within the framework of a national Armenian Digital Health Council involving all relevant stakeholders.
This publication is the first related to telemedicine in Armenia since more than 10 years and the first since it is a legal medical practice in the country.
Collaboration
This scientific publication of the Vickino Institute of Telehealth (VIT) was conducted in partnership with scientific and digital health academic experts from Yerevan, Armenia.
Armenian Association of Digital Health
The AADH is the leading NGO createdin 2008 in Armenia dedicated to build a national digital health ecosystem.
Russian-Armenian University (RAU)
The RAU Research & Education Center of Digital Health (CDH) is the first university in the region hosting a Master of Digital Health.
Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU)
YSMU is the leading medical university in Armenia, where is located the only public Faculty of Public Health.
Ministry of Health (MOH) of Armenia
The MOH of Armenia is the leading governmental organization for healthcare, which legalized telemedicine in 2022.
Deggendorf Institute of Technology
Founded in 1994, the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) is an applied sciences university in Bavaria, Germany.
