Rural Armenia and the healthcare gap

What does quality healthcare actually mean to people living in rural Armenia, and why do so many still distrust the system? We’re joined by Dr. Lorky Libaridian, Health Programs Department Lead at COAF and co-author of a first of its kind study that examines rural patient perceptions of medical care in Armenia. She shares people’s most important concerns, the biggest barriers to access, and how this research can be used to improve healthcare outcomes across Armenia. For the full study, see:

Manukyan, C., Antonyan, L., Hovhannisyan, M. et al. Healthcare quality in rural Armenia: Focus group perceptions. BMC Health Serv Res 25, 1512 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13545-4