ArmInfo. According to preliminary data, in 2019 the birth rate in Armenia was lower than in the previous one, Minister of Healthcare of the country Arsen Torosyan stated at a press conference today, stressing, however, that the pace of decline is being reduced.
If by the end of 2018, an average of 1000 children were born in the country less than in 2017, then in 2019, there are already 700 children less than in 2018. According to the minister, if the birth rate growth continues, which he hopes for, then the difficult demographic situation in the country can be corrected.
Torosyan touched on this topic due to the fact that the state began to close obstetric care services in some communities, which did not meet the necessary criteria for their technical and personnel equipment. In any abnormal situation in such small maternity wards, where there is not even the possibility of surgical intervention, puerperal patients face great health risks. This decision of the Ministry of Healthcare raised a tidal wave in the some parts of the country and a wide discussion in social networks.
Meanwhile, Torosyan informed that this year the state allocated 1.9 billion drams and an additional 700 million in case of an increase in the number of births to support the sector of obstetric care.
It should be noted that, according to the data of the Statistical Committee of Armenia at the beginning of 2019, the population of the country amounted to 2 million 965.1 thousand people. Compared to 2018, this indicator decreased by 7.6 thousand. The birth rate continued to fall. In 2018, 36 thousand 502 children were born in the country, in 2017 - 37.7 thousand children, in 2016 - 40 thousand 592 children. There are no data for 2019 yet.
Last year, the government initiated a set of legislative measures to support the birth rate and increase the number of children in the family.