Armenia’s new Universal Health Insurance program explained

As Armenia rolls out the first phase of its consequential Universal Health Insurance system, one that affects every citizen, many questions remain about how it works and what people should expect. Dr. Shant Shekherdimian, Professor of Surgery at UCLA and an advisor to Armenia’s Ministry of Health, breaks down what the program’s first months have revealed about the reform’s trajectory. The conversation examines concerns over system capacity, wait times, and digital gaps, along with the deeper challenge ahead: improving quality of care and ensuring that increased spending translates into better health outcomes.