A model for nationwide reform, the Dsegh clinic proves how strong primary care can shape a brighter healthcare future in Armenia.
The Dsegh Primary Care Pilot is laying the foundation for transformative healthcare reform in Armenia.
At the clinic, COAF is working with the Ministry of Health to pilot implementation of international best practices—considered for broad adoption across Armenia’s national healthcare system. In just one year, the Dsegh clinic has shown what modern, patient-centric primary care can look like in Armenia, with efforts already shaping national policy.
The goal of this effort? Nothing less than tackling the leading causes of preventable death in Armenia. Now backed by real data, COAF’s partnership in Dsegh marks a critical milestone in the strengthening of Armenia’s healthcare system—and a step towards lasting, life-saving impact.
The Stakes: Targeting Armenia’s Leading Causes of Preventable Death
Cardiovascular Disease accounts for as much as 50% of preventable death in Armenia, with hypertension, and diabetes as significant contributors. These conditions shorten life-spans and degrade quality of life—but that doesn’t have to be the case.
The international best practices implemented in Dsegh can rewrite a familiar tragic story of preventable deaths—like strokes and heart attacks—for families across the country.
The Clinic: A Stage for National Transformation
Built by COAF the Dsegh clinic operates as a public ambulatory clinic under government management—but not everything here is business as usual. Critical primary care services are delivered under the guidance of COAF’s health team, making the site a national test case for introducing international standards in rural Armenia.
The pilot is led by Dr. Lorky Libaridian, a Yale-trained, double board-certified physician in both internal medicine and pediatrics, who served as Medical Director for Performance Improvement in Primary Care at Cambridge Health Alliance and was an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
The effort in Dsegh is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Lori Municipal Government, the State Health Agency, ArMed (the National eHealth Operator), COAF, and the healthcare team on the ground in Dsegh.
COAF experts are supporting local doctors and nurses to deliver the care that every family in Armenia deserves.
The Approach: Comprehensive, Data-Driven, and Patient Focused
“One of the biggest misconceptions you find on the topic of Armenian healthcare, is that gaps are because of deficiencies in expensive, state-of-the-art medical technology,” reflects Dr. Libaridian.
“One of the biggest misconceptions you find on the topic of Armenian healthcare, is that gaps are because of deficiencies in expensive, state-of-the-art medical technology.”
In clinics and hospitals across Armenia, the hurdles to saving lives are often foundational. “When approximately half of the preventable deaths in Armenia are from cardiovascular disease, we don’t need an MRI or a fancy test to prevent deaths. We need doctors and nurses who are trained to work with patients, counsel them, identify diseases early, and test and treat them properly—with simple blood and urine tests, and medications for high blood pressure and cholesterol,” she explains. “And, we need data systems that allow us to track how we’re doing, identify who needs more care, and evaluate how the system can improve. That’s exactly what we are doing in Dsegh.”
The pilot aims to place the patient’s needs and preferences at the center of care. At the clinic, integrated care offers access to a social worker and psychologist, ensuring that patient well-being is addressed holistically.
Today, in Dsegh, early results send a clear signal: patients are receiving a fundamentally different level of healthcare than in clinics across the country.
Adult Clinic Visits Increased Over 35%
Patient visits to the clinic increased from 305–315 visits/month in Spring 2024 to over 450/month in Spring 2025—demonstrating rising trust and access to care. These numbers also show that patients and doctors are working together more frequently to manage their conditions over time.
Critical Diagnostics, Now Routine and Accessible
Tests that were once out of reach are now performed on a daily basis in Dsegh. These results are crucial in helping patients and doctors make informed medical decisions and provide the highest level of care possible
- Full Lipid Profile – Important component of cardiovascular risk assessment
- Electrolyte and Kidney Function Testing– Help guide medication management and monitor kidney health in patients with diabetes and hypertension.
- HbA1c – Gold standard for tracking diabetes control
- Diabetic Retinopathy Screening – Enables early detection of damage to the retina from diabetes, which can lead to vision loss and even blindness
- Diabetic Foot Exams (Microfilament) –Enables early detection of nerve damage which can lead to ulcers, infections and amputations
Bolstering Care with Real Data
Before the pilot, only summary codes were entered (e.g. “test done, normal”). Now, real clinical values are being recorded for the first time:
- Actual blood pressure readings
- Actual glucose levels
- HbA1c results
This shift from symbolic to actionable data enables more precise and personalized care—and lays the groundwork for a data-driven national health strategy.
Treatment Access Is Expanding
Expanded free testing and medication have made treatment accessible to many for the first time. From Spring 2024 to Spring 2025:
- Statin prescriptions (to lower cholesterol) rose from 3–4/month to 87–90/month
- Blood pressure medication prescriptions rose from ~40/month to 250–280/month
Chronic Disease Management Shows Promise
A1c levels Being Recorded for the First Time—And Improving Steadily
Before the implementation of the pilot by COAF, HbA1cs, a critical component of diabetes care, was not accessible to the vast majority of patients; some had never had it measured though they had diabetes for over ten years. Now, this essential indicator is accessible to all diabetic patients at the clinic, and it is recorded into the system, enabling better decision making and better care.
Data That Drives Action
Through collaboration with ArMed, real-time reports are helping providers monitor trends and respond more effectively—empowering the clinic to improve cardiovascular health.
Bottom line: With rising engagement, improved diagnostics, and data-driven care, the Dsegh pilot is already delivering the kind of healthcare improvements Armenia has long needed—and setting the table for a national, life-saving transformation.
