Singapore (dpa) - A Singapore institute is helping set up Armenia's second heart surgery department, it was reported on Monday. Armenian surgeon Vahe Gasparyan, who has been training at the National Healthcare Group's Heart Institute for the past year, is leaving with reconditioned surgical equipment in tow, The Straits Times said.
He will start a cardiac unit in Erebuni Medical Center in Yerevan, the capital city. "At present, there is only one hospital that does open heart surgery and they see about 700 cases a year," Gasparyan was quoted as saying.
With charges high, he noted many people have to sell their homes or cars to pay for the surgery. An estimated 2,000 people need heart surgery each year in Armenia, which has a population of 3 million.
Once the cardiac unit is up and running, three surgeons from Singapore will take turns going over to assist in the operating theatre and in delivering lectures, using their own funds, the institute said.
He will start a cardiac unit in Erebuni Medical Center in Yerevan, the capital city. "At present, there is only one hospital that does open heart surgery and they see about 700 cases a year," Gasparyan was quoted as saying.
With charges high, he noted many people have to sell their homes or cars to pay for the surgery. An estimated 2,000 people need heart surgery each year in Armenia, which has a population of 3 million.
Once the cardiac unit is up and running, three surgeons from Singapore will take turns going over to assist in the operating theatre and in delivering lectures, using their own funds, the institute said.