Armenia: Organ transplantation from deceased donors “will save lives”October 21, 2019 - 14:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Health Minister Arsen Torosyan has confirmed his intention to develop the practice of transplanting organs from deceased donors in Armenia. Torosyan told journalists on Monday, October 21 that the method will help save many lives, A1Plus reports. Kidney transplantation, the Minister said, is the most urgent procedure that needs to be regulated and improved. Such surgeries are currently offered in the country with organs from living donors and are partly paid for by the government. According to Torosyan, the practice of donating organs after death has stirred heated discussions among the public, with no constructive criticism though. The health chief said Armenians spend tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars on liver and kidney transplants abroad, whereas a part of those surgeries are performed with organs from deceased donors. Torosyan said organ donations are arranged only after a brain death has been declared. While admitting the delicacy of the matter, the Health Minister said the country needs to move forward nonetheless. The Minister said, however, that people are free to refuse to donate their organs and tissue when they die. He also stressed the role of the media and social ads in the process of educating the public that the practice is a humanitarian step to save someone else’s life. The first-ever liver transplant surgery was performed in Armenia in April. Torosyan had revealed in March that a living- and deceased-donor transplant program of kidneys, liver and heart would be launching in Armenia. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |