OREANDA-NEWS. September 26, 2008. First of all, the Prime Minister thanked the WHO and Mr. Danzon for the assistance so far provided to Armenia and expressed hope that the current visit will usher in new achievements in the domestic health care sector. Tigran Sargsyan advised that health care is held as a priority in the government program, with the sector financing having been considerably increased in the medium-term program and in the next year's draft State budget law. The Prime Minister presented Armenia's ambitious program on making of our country a regional health care center in 8 directions and welcomed Mr. Danzon's comments on the program.

Mark Danzon said to have already been briefed on the program by the RA Minister of Health Care and stated his willingness to possibly support the program in all of the 8 directions. He indicated that strong with qualified specialists, Armenia is well poised to expand its health care system especially as the authorities themselves are cognizant thereof. "Any prime minister has a say in questions like this. It is greatly to prime ministers' credit that they raise awareness of the health care sector," the WHO European bureau director said and went on to assure that his organization would do its utmost to have local specialists trained, the worldwide know-how handed down to our country and Armenia's health care system integrated with the European one.

It was emphasized on either side that success in this field can seriously favor economic expansion through increased GDP, new jobs and thriving sports and tourism.