Nagorno-Karabakh: invalids undergo medical examination

In the end of 2009, the Centre of Medical-Sanitary Examination held a control physical examination of invalids. After that, some of them were dissatisfied with change of the category or complete lifting of their disability status, and with deprivation of privileges.

According to Narine Astsatryan, Minister of Social Care of Nagorno-Karabakh, in total 3795 citizens were examined, of them 3125 persons were recognized as invalids.

"As a result of rehabilitation, for 1040 invalids the category of their physical disability was revised (in 2008 - in 211 persons, and in 2007 - in 11 persons only), that is, five times more than in 2008," said Ms Astsatryan, having added that this sort of expert's examinations will be held periodically in the future.

Some of citizens expressed their indignation of the fact of changes in their disability status.

"I had second category, now they transferred me into the third one, but I can't find work. In one place they say that they need strong man's hands, others assert that they don't want invalids," said Artem, 31.

"I was a second-category invalid. In 2009, they defined the third one for me. I see no improvement in my health, but the commission believes that I can go to work. As a result, I found no work, and at the same time I was deprived of the allowance for maintaining my minor child, which was 6000 drams," Bella B., 48, a resident of Karabakh, has complained.

Karen Gukasyan, head of the Centre of Medical-Sanitary Examination, said in his comments on the reasons of the changes in disability category of certain citizens that "in the course of the present examination we found their health condition to be satisfactory; and it means that they can work."

"Our Centre defines only the degree and status of physical inability as of the moment of examination. This year we don't consider the social factor. If an invalid has social problems - this is under the Ministry of Social Welfare," Mr Gukasyan has concluded.