Armenia hosting international conference on protection of patients`  rights 

ArmInfo.An international conference on patient rights is being held in Armenia. It is dedicated to the country's ratification of the Council of Europe's  Oviedo Convention.

The Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights in the Field of  Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention) is the only legally binding  international document on human rights in the field of biomedicine  and healthcare.  Speaking at the opening of the event, Alen Simonyan,  Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, noted  that by ratifying the Oviedo Convention on April 18, 2025, Armenia  reaffirmed its commitment to protecting human rights and dignity.  "This Convention is based on human beings, and by adopting this law,  we have affirmed that the interests and well-being of individuals  take precedence over the interests of society or science. We, the  legislators, together with our partners in the Armenian government  and the Council of Europe, will do everything possible to overcome  the shortcomings and challenges in this area, ensure the full  implementation of the Convention's principles, and implement advanced  European practices for the benefit of the people of the Republic of  Armenia," said Alen Simonyan.

Director of the Council of Europe's Directorate for Social Rights,  Health, and Environment, Rafael Benitez, noting Armenia's  ratification of the Oviedo Convention, noted that this important  achievement was made possible thanks to the strong commitment of the  Armenian authorities and institutions. "The next action plan,  currently under discussion, will allow us to deepen this fruitful  cooperation," Rafael Benitez emphasized. He added that healthcare  systems are essential for societal security, crisis preparedness,  resilience, and democratic sustainability.

According to the speaker, the RA authorities' efforts to address the  aforementioned challenges are welcome.  Benitez also touched on the  ethical aspects of healthcare policy, emphasizing the fight against  misinformation and disinformation, as well as improving health  literacy. "We will continue to support the RA authorities' efforts to  ensure respect and protection of human rights, including the right to  healthcare," noted the Director of the Council of Europe Directorate.

RA Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan presented in detail the RA  government's policy on patient rights protection and the program of  ongoing sectoral reforms. According to the Minister, this is a  turning point for our country, with the Convention becoming the gold  standard for legislative reforms in Armenia. Anahit Avanesyan  presented the main directions and principles of the government's  policy in this area, where patient rights protection plays a key  role. The speaker also described the process of implementing a  universal health insurance system, which, she noted, is a tool and  means of protecting patients' rights. In implementing reforms, the  Minister attached great importance to the experience of international  partners and expressed her willingness not only to learn but also to  share her own experience. "We are building the healthcare of the  future," noted Anait Avanesyan.