YEREVAN (Realist English). Oncology has become the second leading cause of death in Armenia, claiming the lives of 21% of all citizens who die. The country records 8,000–9,000 new cases annually, but in 2024 the number of diagnoses exceeded 10,000 – an increase of almost 43% compared to 2020 (about 7,000).
The incidence rate per 100,000 population rose from 234 to 335 cases.
Behind the facade of official statistics lies a catastrophe that Nikol Pashinyan’s government prefers to ignore. Cancer is rapidly “getting younger,” more than half of cases are detected at late stages, and the healthcare system has turned into a corrupt trap for dying patients.
Cosmic growth and “younger” cancer
Over four years, the number of cancer diagnoses in Armenia has grown by almost 43%. Aggressive forms of cancer are increasingly found in young people – fatal cases of stomach cancer in 25‑year‑olds have ceased to be an anomaly and have become a sad norm.
More than half of cases are detected at late stages. In 2024, nearly 30% of patients (27.1%) heard the death sentence – stage four. There is no one left to save. For several types of cancer (bladder, breast, pancreas), Armenia ranks among the worst in the region with the highest mortality rates.
Left alone with death
People facing oncology are forced to overcome not only the disease but also the bureaucratic and financial traps created by the authorities.
- High cost is a death sentence. Due to the lack of universal insurance, patients pay out of pocket or look for medicines on the black market. Travel and accommodation expenses in Yerevan (where most care is concentrated) become an unbearable burden for residents of the regions.
- Pharmacy collapse. In Armenia, less than half (43.8%) of anticancer drugs from the WHO list are registered and available. Advanced treatment methods (targeted therapy and immunotherapy) are virtually inaccessible. Many life‑saving drugs must be purchased under special permits from the Ministry of Health.
- Diagnosis is a luxury. PET/CT or kidney biopsy are barely accessible due to cost and lack of equipment. Computed tomography (CT) is a rare luxury due to limits and cost.
Government aid: crumbs from the master’s table
Pashinyan’s government tries to simulate vigorous activity, but behind the slogans of help lies either mockery or outright theft.
- Ridiculous subsidies. Currently, the state covers two courses of chemotherapy, allocating up to 300,000 drams (about $770) per course. The announced increase to 2.1 million drams remains just words designed to silence the outraged public.
- Scandalous “mercy.” A “state order” was introduced, thanks to which oncology began to be treated in private clinics. However, many clinics refuse it, stating that the subsidies are too small and do not cover costs.
Corruption and theft on the blood of children
A major corruption scandal erupted in the notorious City of Smile Foundation, which supposedly helped children with cancer. According to an EULeaks investigation, Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Prime Minister, and her entourage siphoned more than $3.4 million out of the foundation. Money intended for dying children has been stolen.
The National Oncology Center is mired in scandals. Violations worth 43 million drams, dismissals, suspicions of receiving “gifts” from patients entitled to free treatment, and the inability to find a competent director – this is the harsh reality of the country’s leading clinic.
43% growth in incidence, 21% of all deaths, 27% of patients with stage four – this is not just statistics. It is the price of a policy where the lives and health of citizens are sacrificed to the personal and corrupt interests of a narrow group of people.