Armenia’s Digital Health Reforms Get a Boost from NIH Training and Hovnanian Support

Armenia’s shift to a fully digital healthcare system has been years in the making. But like many reforms, success depends not just on strategy—it depends on systems that support those expected to carry it out. That’s where the National Institute of Health (NIH) and a recent grant from the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation come in.

Thanks to the grant, the NIH has launched a large-scale training program aimed at equipping healthcare providers across Armenia with the skills they need to navigate and manage the country’s national electronic health information system, known as ARMED. To date, around 800 primary healthcare (PHC) doctors have completed the three-day in-person course. Another 400 are expected to be trained by the end of the program.

Building Digital Foundations in Primary Care

This isn’t the first time Armenia has invested in digital health. In 2019, nearly 1,800 PHC doctors were trained to begin using ARMED as part of the government’s effort to move away from paper-based systems. Back then, around 2,400 computers were distributed to healthcare institutions to support the shift. The initial rollout gave many providers access to digital tools, but it didn’t fully prepare them to use these systems meaningfully in clinical decision-making.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. The computers and training already in place played a key role in helping the healthcare system manage the crisis. As service delivery rapidly shifted online, NIH adapted its training format accordingly. But it soon became clear that while many doctors could input data into ARMED, few understood how to interpret, manage, or apply that information in a meaningful and systematic way. The result was inefficient data use, limited accuracy, and missed opportunities to improve care.

That’s when the NIH decided to launch a new wave of in-depth digital literacy training and applied to the Hovnanian Foundation for support.

According to Tsaghkanush Sargsyan, Head of the E-Health Department at NIH, the training goes beyond basic system use and focuses on practical data management. “Our goal is to teach healthcare providers how to work with the information already in the system, ensure its accuracy, and—perhaps most importantly—understand how to use it meaningfully,” she explains.

The grant-funded training, titled ‘Digital Transformations in Healthcare: Accurate Health Data,’ helps providers understand how ARMED functions within a broader ecosystem. 

ARMED was first implemented nationwide in 2017. The system collects clinical data from hospitals and polyclinics and supports service reimbursement within Armenia’s Basic Benefits Package. It also connects healthcare providers across institutions, linking family doctors with hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and relevant ministries.

From Training to Policy Impact 

During the three-day training course, physicians learn not just how to use ARMED, but also how to ensure data quality, review clinical histories, and integrate information into patient care. The course also includes essential modules on data privacy and security, aligned with Armenia’s legal framework for patient data protection.

The work doesn’t end with the training. The NIH is now using the experience of these sessions to identify long-term needs. “This grant didn’t just allow us to run training sessions, but helped us identify what’s still missing,” says Sargsyan. “We now have a clearer picture of what’s needed at the policy level, including legal updates, role clarification, and better digital safeguards.”

Looking ahead, the NIH plans to build on the lessons of this training phase by expanding support to nurses and healthcare administrators. New modules are also being developed for clinic digital managers, who play a key role in encouraging or delaying the adoption of digital tools. “Training alone isn’t enough,” says Sargsyan. “For these reforms to take root, we need a broader shift in professional culture, and that takes time.”

This work is being complemented by the efforts of Sona Baghdasaryan, a computational linguist and informatician currently serving as a second-year iGorts Fellow and Hovnanian Public Service Fellow at the Ministry of Health. Originally from Germany, Baghdasaryan has more than nine years of experience working on e-health systems in Europe, including the KHZG initiative under Germany’s Ministry of Health.

In Armenia, she focuses on improving how ARMED functions in real-world settings. This includes aligning it with international classification systems such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), improving workflows, and addressing bottlenecks reported by physicians. Baghdasaryan also acts as a liaison between clinics and the Ministry, helping communicate provider concerns and working on interface updates and usability improvements.

One example she highlights involved confusion around reporting requirements. “Many regional providers found the system too slow or unclear,” Baghdasaryan explains. “By organizing feedback sessions and offering on-site support, we were able to help resolve those concerns and strengthen adoption.”

Her second-year placement has allowed her to stay involved in implementation—a key benefit of the Foundation’s Public Service Fellowship, which offers extended support for high-performing iGorts fellows. “The NIH training gives providers the foundation they need,” she says. “My role is to make sure those skills are integrated into daily clinical practice.”

A Shared Vision for Armenia’s eHealth Future

The current efforts align closely with Armenia’s 2020–2025 Health Care System Development Strategy, which prioritizes full digitalization of health services, improved data interoperability, and patient-centered care. The national vision for eHealth includes high-quality, standardized data, transparent service delivery, and legal protections that ensure both privacy and accessibility.

Still, challenges remain. “We have a cultural issue in how data is handled, and a lack of patient engagement,” Sargsyan explains. “There’s also a need to better involve nurses, who are often on the front lines but lack the training or tools to use ARMED effectively.”

To help address this, the NIH is now developing tailored content for nurses and health post staff in rural areas, especially in locations where no full-time doctors are present. Parallel efforts are underway to improve training for hospital directors and administrators. “This is about building a system that works for everyone,” Sargsyan says. “Doctors, nurses, patients, and policymakers all need to be part of that conversation.”

The grant awarded to NIH is part of a $250,000 package distributed by the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation in late 2024, focused on strengthening Armenia’s primary healthcare system. Other selected grantees included the Armenian EyeCare Project and the Armenia Peace Initiative. Together, the three initiatives reflect a strategic approach to advancing primary care in Armenia through targeted, high-impact programming, addressing gaps in infrastructure, capacity, and emergency response.

As Armenia continues to modernize its healthcare system, partnerships like the one between NIH and the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation are helping translate national vision into action. By investing in training, talent, and tools, these efforts are laying the groundwork for a more efficient, equitable, and digitally connected healthcare future.