USAID and Armenian Health Ministry sign agreement on emergency medical care services.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern, Director of the USAID Armenia Office Jatinder Cheema and Minister of Health Harutyun Kushkyan signed a two-year grant agreement for the improvement of accessibility of ambulances in Armenia.

Attending the signing ceremony were government officials and representatives of the U.S. mission.

The two-year grant is part of the agreement on assistance in healthcare and social reforms signed between the USAID and the RA Government in August 2010.

The goals of the “Improved Emergency Medical Care Services” project are to: 

- Enhance public awareness of EMS reforms through the local media, non-governmental organizations, and professional associations; 

- Improve the Ministry of Health’s capacity to monitor EMS services and to evaluate the overall impact of the EMS reform on Armenian public health;

- Provide technical expertise to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to finalize the country strategy for further development of Armenia’s Emergency Care Services based on international standards; 

- Support continuous professional development of the MOH staff to sustain EMS reforms.