Armenian doctors try to squeeze money out of soldiers for free examination

An Armenian doctor conducting a colonoscopy at a medical center in Yerevan demanded 60,000 drams (approx. $152) for the anesthetic from a conscripted soldier.

According to Caliber.Az referring to the Armenian media, when the mother refused to pay the amount, the examination was carried out without an anesthetic, but could not be completed as the conscript could not endure pain. The doctors at the “Grigor Lusavoric” medical center sent made-up results from the not-completed examination to the military enlistment office.

The 18-year-old conscript was sent to the medical center for examination. The surgeon wasn’t satisfied with his X-rays, so he sent him for a colonoscopy.

“The doctor conducting the colonoscopy said that the free examination does not provide for anesthesia and that this costs 60,000 drams, but I was told in the military registration office that everything would be free, I knew that”, the mother of the Armenian soldier told journalists.
The question of money, as the doctor said, must be decided by the surgeon. And the latter, in turn, said that it should have been decided by the military office.

“In short, they blamed each other. I said that I don’t have that kind of money at the moment, I came unprepared, and we can’t do the test. And the doctor suggested that we try without anesthesia, maybe it will work. I, of course, did not agree, but my son persuaded me and said ‘let’s try’.
I left the room, but within two minutes I heard my son’s cries and began to break down the door to make them stop”, the woman said.

A few days later, the woman went to the recruitment office and told them about the incident but as is turned out, they had already received the results from the incomplete exam.

“In the military enlistment office I was shown papers according to which, we passed the colonoscopy normally, the doctor indicated the results as being normal - my son has no problems”, the mother said.

After learning that they had been asked to pay money and had actually fabricated the results of the examination, the military command sent the young man to another hospital where everything went smoothly and free.

Journalists called the diagnostics department of the medical center, which responded by saying that the anesthesia for a colonoscopy costs 20,000 drams, and the examination itself 30,000. However, this procedure is completely free for conscripts, as it is carried out within the framework of a state order.