Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening of Armenia’s 5th International Medical Congress at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater after A. Spendiaryan.

Welcoming the participants of the congress, Nikol Pashinyan noted:
“Distinguished Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia,
Distinguished Minister of Health of the Republic of Artsakh,
Dear Members of the Presidium of the International Congress of Doctors of Armenia,
Dear delegates and guests,

I welcome the forum and the existence of a pan-Armenian professional network, in general, since I think it allows us to overcome the apprehension of a smaller nation. When we are aware of such gatherings we realize who we have in different corners of the world, when we realize that world-class professionals are practicing in the Republic of Armenia and in the Republic of Artsakh. When we see that different countries are proud of Armenian specialists and their accomplishments, it helps us all – the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora to continuously raise our self-esteem.

I want to emphasize that the Armenian people have always felt the support of the international, pan-Armenian medical community.

This support was evident and invaluable during the 1988 earthquake. This support was invaluable during the Artsakh war, when dozens and hundreds of doctors from Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora volunteered to serve our freedom fighters, freedom fighters in Armenia for the freedom fighters and soldiers. This support has been noticeable and invaluable even after the ceasefire, when dozens and hundreds of Armenian doctors have provided support to socially vulnerable groups who have a need for medical and health care.

Many similar projects have been implemented in the Republic of Armenia in the Republic of Artsakh. But today I want to state that the work of the professional, medical congress and the international medical community in general should probably be more coordinated, we must be able to organize that work as a single team, a whole system of work so that we can turn energy into synergy.

The more I communicate with different Diaspora communities during my career, the more I am pleasantly surprised at the fact that we have so many faces; in this case, I wish to mention those health specialists practicing in different countries who are engaged in innovations as authors, as a critic, and so on. And this potential really comes as great support and potential for our country to foster Armenia’s technological future on the way to making Armenia a technological center, including a healthcare technology center.

And we, the Republic of Armenia, the Government of Armenia, the people of Armenia are hoping for this vision, hopes that this vision will ultimately unite us all on the way to see our Homeland, the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Artsakh as developed, developed countries. And your role in this case is hard to overestimate. In general, I want to say that this system should operate in all areas of professionalism.

Yes, we must have Armenian community of doctors, Armenian community, organized network, we must have physicists, mathematicians, military, diplomats, scientists and so on. And the center of all these networks should become Armenia and one of the main platforms for the operation of all these networks should become Armenia.

And the government of the Republic of Armenia is ready to do everything to make this program viable, and recent changes in the structure of the Armenian government are also aimed at addressing such issues.

I welcome the motto of today’s congress - Merger for the sake of health” - but I would note that this process should also refer to other spheres as well: security, progress and merger as a final and irreversible victory.

Thank you. I wish the Congress successful proceedings.”

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Since 1980, once every four years, dozens of Armenian doctors worldwide have been convened. Since 2001, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia and the International Committee of the Armenian Physicians (AMIC) have agreed to hold the International Doctors' Congress in Armenia and the Diaspora respectively every two years. The 1st International Medical Congress in Armenia took place in 2003, followed by 2007, 2011 and 2015.

The world’s leading medical centers, professional non-governmental organizations and professionals are involved in both the scientific and organizational processes.

On Plenary sessions, professional sessions, seminars and symposiums, lectures will be held on July 4-6.

The conference will make a great contribution to the cooperation between Armenia and Diaspora Armenian doctors, medical science and further development of the health sector.

This year’s slogan of the Congress is “Armenia-Diaspora-Artsakh: merger for the sake of health.”