YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. 1800 people received treatment within the framework of the National Stroke Program launched in 2019, offering free treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients.

Armine Aghajanyan, the chief healthcare organizer at the Department of Hospital Medical Aid Policy of the Ministry of Healthcare said at a press conference that the number of people receiving treatment under the program is growing every year.

“If in 2019 only 350 people were treated, now, in 2022, when the year isn’t over yet, more than 500 people have already been included in the program. The number of medical institutions which have joined the program also increased. The Gyumri Medical Center joined the three hospitals in Yerevan,” she said.

Other hospitals across the country are expected to join the program soon.

Professor Viken L. Babikian of the Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Mikael Skon Muratoglu MD, Neurologist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada- who are members of the Armenia Stroke Council, are now in Armenia and have been visiting hospitals to identify all problems.

“First of all broad awareness campaigns must be done in the public, educate people, present preventive measures. Next, the system must be developed, and third, the level of professional skills must be raised,” said Mikael Skon Muratoglu.

Professor Viken L Babikian also highlighted awareness campaigns.

“We often speak about healthy lifestyle, but people must realize that this is the most important factor. People should maintain a healthy diet and be physically active. Everyone should get three-hours exercise per week. People should quit smoking and reduce salt intake,” Babikian said.

But the professor also attached importance to patients being consistent during the course of treatment. He said that there are many cases when doctors are saving a patient’s life after they suffered a stroke, but the patient is again facing the same issues in the future due to careless approach towards their own health.

Nune Yeghiazaryan, the Chair of the Armenia Stroke Council, said the results of the acute ischemic stroke treatment program are satisfactory – the death rate from stroke has dropped and the quality of life of patients is improving.

“The death rate in hospitals was 30-40 percent. After the program was launched it reached 20 percent. Although I have to say that increased attention towards stroke has its impact also, doctors have begun conducting deeper exams and tests,” she said.

The professors from Canada and US said that the figures recorded in Armenia are near to the figures of hospitals in Europe, Canada and the US.