Primary Healthcare Quality Assurance Program Officially Launched

February 17, 2009

USAID/Armenia Acting Mission Director Cynthia Pruett presents the program (USAID)

YEREVAN, ARMENIA – On February 17, 2009, the RA Ministry of Health (MOH) and the USAID Primary Healthcare Reform (PHCR) Project marked the official launch of the nationwide Quality Assurance (QA) in Primary Health Care program. The event brought together some 200 participants, including Ministry of Health and local government officials, future coordinators of QA activities, directors of Primary Health Care facilities, representatives of medical education institutions, USAID, PHCR, and implementing partners.

In his opening remarks, MOH Deputy Head of Staff Haik Grigoryan highlighted the importance of Primary Health Care (PHC) reforms and improved quality of PHC services. He noted the Government’s commitment to continue PHC reforms and thanked international organizations, USAID, and the PHCR project in particular, for their assistance. In turn, USAID/Armenia Acting Mission Director Cynthia Pruett noted PHC reforms and improved services are among USAID’s priorities in Armenia as they will contribute to improved health of the Armenian people and lead to higher labor productivity, increased incomes and economic growth.

As the first systematic initiative to improve the quality of PHC services nationwide, the QA program will lead to improvements in five key areas: (1) improved patient access to care; (2) improved physical environment through better physical facilities and equipment; (3) improved clinical and technical competence of PHC providers who will follow evidence-based practices and clinical standards; (4) improved patient and community satisfaction and better responsiveness to their needs; (5) improved PHC facility management.

As part of the QA program, a set of four manuals were developed, providing basic framework and guidelines for the improvement of healthcare quality throughout Armenia. PHCR then conducted three 4-day training-of-trainers courses for 53 Quality Coordinators from all the marzes and Yerevan. The Coordinators will serve as lead implementers of the program and will further train PHC facility staff countrywide on the QA process. The monitoring of QA implementation will be conducted by the Ministry of Health with PHCR’s support.