The Russian MRT Expert company made a large investment in the Gyumri Medical Center, where MRI machines have been placed. According to experts, MRIs are a safe way of finding a diagnosis for problems. They do not cause radiation and they give doctors the opportunity to find the underlying reasons for a particular illness. This is new for a hospital in Armenia’s regions. Similar diagnostic machines are only available in a few hospitals in Yerevan.
The director of the Gyumri Medical Center, Armen Isahakyan, told Aravot Daily that the Russian company said this machine cost them $800,000. This included the cost of the machine itself, its transport, placement, and the cost of training experts overseas. According to the agreement, Russian experts are working with Armenian experts (bringing in the MRI machine created 15 new jobs in Gyumri), and all costs and the care of the machine are being taken care of by the Russian company. Armen Isahakyan said that, if necessary, medical examinations will be sent to Russia to be discussed with Russian professors.
“Having such a machine in a hospital, which will allow you to respond quickly and to give a diagnosis quickly is not only important for the province, but for the entire region as well. Giving the correct diagnosis and prescribing correct treatment for serious illnesses makes this machine irreplaceable. Our partners wanted the machine to be put in Yerevan, but then they understood that Armenia’s provinces also are in need of such machines, so their investment is justified,” Armen Isahakyan said.
It has been 20 days since the machine was brought to Gyumri. A free examination program was held where 150 patients were already examined.
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“I believe that people will begin to trust us and they will come for examinations from Lori, from neighboring Georgia. Now, at least 400 patients do not have to go to the capital in order to receive heart surgery. The number of patients who come to our ophthalmology clinic is also growing because of new technology and visits from top doctors. It is important to decrease the number of patients who go to the capital to receive treatment because of how expensive it is. We also give a quick diagnosis. This is the most important factor because illnesses that have been discovered quickly will be easier to treat. In terms of expense, all of our services are cheaper than in the capital,” Armen Isahakyan said.
Nune Arevshatyan
