WHO/Europe and the European Union (EU), in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Armenia, have launched a new joint programme to bolster Armenia’s health workforce and strengthen mental health services in the country, marking a major step in Armenia’s health-care reforms.
The initiative is part of a broader 5-country programme titled “Support for Health Resilience in the Eastern Partnership”, funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood and launched in Brussels, Belgium, in early 2025.
Through this new initiative, WHO/Europe will support Armenia and 4 other countries in the Eastern Partnership – Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – as they retain and support their health workforces, strengthen mental health services, tackle stigma, and include culture- and arts-based approaches in health.
“With EU funding, WHO is supporting Armenia in strengthening its health workforce and integrating mental health services into primary care,” said Dr Siddhartha Datta, WHO Representative in Armenia, at the launch event in Yerevan on 26 February. “Today’s launch represents an important step towards building resilient health systems that can withstand future challenges and ensure inclusive health care for all.”
Need for resilient and sustainable health systems
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in health systems worldwide, highlighting the need for stronger and better-supported health workforces. Armenia, like many countries in the WHO European Region, faces pressing challenges including workforce shortages, uneven distribution of health professionals and high levels of burnout.
At the same time, mental health has emerged as a priority area, requiring a shift from institutionalized models to community-based, person-centred care that reduces stigma and expands access to essential services.
“The EU is committed to supporting Armenia’s health sector, ensuring that today’s investments lead to lasting and meaningful change,” said Mr Vassilis Maragos, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia. “Through our partnership with WHO, we are addressing critical workforce challenges and expanding access to mental health support. A resilient health system is the foundation of a strong society, and together we are working to make quality health care a reality for all in Armenia.”
Strengthening Armenia’s health workforce
A well trained and equitably distributed health workforce is essential for ensuring high-quality care. With this in mind, the EU-funded programme will focus on:
- improving health workforce retention through better working conditions and mental health support;
- enhancing the quality of medical and nursing education to align with Armenia’s health-care needs; and
- supporting evidence-based workforce planning for long-term health system sustainability.
Enhancing mental health services and reducing stigma
Mental health remains a critical yet underfunded area of health care in Armenia. Institutionalization and stigma have often limited access to necessary services. In response, the programme will:
- strengthen national mental health governance and service provision;
- train health workers to adopt a rights-based, person-centred approach to mental health care; and
- promote mental health awareness and well-being through actions to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination and improve community-based services.
The collaboration of WHO and the EU in Armenia is part of a larger commitment to strengthen health systems across the Eastern Partnership region. The Partnership supports Armenia in advancing its health sector reforms to pave the way towards universal health coverage and ensure health system resilience.