On February 9, the draft law on Making Amendments and Addendum to the Law on Medical Aid and Service for Population authored by the RA NA deputies Narek Zeynalyan and Lusine Badalyan was debated in the first reading at the NA regular sitting.
According to the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care Narek Zeynalyan, it is proposed to stipulate that pathological-anatomical autopsies are performed to diagnose post-mortem diseases and to determine the cause of death only in organizations providing medical care and services in a hospital.
It is also proposed to eliminate inaccuracy - to recognize Article 41.4.1 invalid, because, pursuant to the current law, pathological-anatomical autopsy is performed only in the presence of a clinical diagnosis.
Narek Zeynalyan has noted that according to 2020 data, autopsy is performed in Armenia in 90% of deaths. “In 53 countries of the European region of the World Health Organization, the indicator is just 26%. There are countries where the indicator is 2% or 3%,” the key rapporteur underlined.
According to the Committee Chair, proper quality control is not performed in those organizations which are not affiliated with medical institutions. There are 8 of them that have received a license to carry out pathological-anatomical control. The draft proposes to revoke the licenses of those organizations after 6 months, which will no longer be able to carry out such activities.
The member of the Standing Committee on Health Care Hripsime Hunanyan presented the endorsement of the Head Committee.
The Deputy Minister of Health Armen Nazaryan presented the viewpoint of the executive body on the bill. According to the Deputy Minister, the above-mentioned branch of medicine, as a type of medical aid and service, should be considered in general context and cannot operate out of the hospital service.
Next, the parliament debated in the second reading the package of draft laws on Making Amendment and Addenda to the RA Law on Road Transport, on Amending the RA Code on Administrative Offenses, as well as the legislative package on Making Addendum to the Law on Population Protection in Emergency Situations and on Making Amendment and Addenda to the RA Code on Administrative Offenses.
Then the National Assembly adopted the debated draft laws by voting.
Covering the agenda, the parliament ended the work of the regular sittings.