From 11 to 20 October, 2019, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the RA Minister of Health, Arsen Torosyan’s personality and activities.
35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.
In the specified period, 175 articles were declared, 76 of which were negative, 11 were positive and 88 were neutral.
Arsen Torosyan’s activity is in the media spotlight. Compared to his teammates, the minister is more actively covered but negative articles still prevail the positive ones in number.
According to media outlets, Nikol Pashinyan’s daughters were not vaccinated with “Gardasil 4” vaccine and thereby equaled Arsen Torosyan’s rating and the value of his exhortations to zero.
Environmental activist Silva Adamyan referred to the issue of Amulsar mine exploitation and said that the Ministry of Health should’ve conducted studies. She noted that she approached the minister at a meeting on the matter but the latter had not responded. According to the environmental activist, the ministry, in its turn, gives plain answers to the inquiries they send.
According to reports on October 11, few MPs from “My Step” fraction met in the CC (Civil Contract) Party’s office situated on Sayat Nova Street. The minister was surprised that only few people had gathered, but, despite it, he presented his speech and plan regarding the anti-smoking law. Some of party members who were present at the meeting opposed the minister.
Davit Grigoryan, Head of the Laboratory Diagnostic Department of “Research Center of Radiation Medicine and Burns” of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, has filed a lawsuit against the RA Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan. He has filed a lawsuit based on insult to the personal dignity as he has a conviction that the minister offended him.
According to media reports, the current director of “Medline” Medical Center Babken Shahumyan once tried to become head of the Medical Center for Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections, by the help of Arsen Torosyan, but because of Narek Zeynalyan’s intervention, it did not happen. Addressing the news related to Babken Shahumyan, the news agency notes that the clinic headed by Arsen Torosyan’s friend received 178 million 59 thousand 300 AMD of state order in 2018 and the amount reached 315.424.904 AMD in 2019.
The media continues to accuse Arsen Torosyan of sponsorship. Thus, “On October 8, the Lori regional administration held a competition to elect the director of “Alaverdi” Medical Center. The acting director Stepan Mosinyan, head of the surgical department of Stepanavan medical center and surgeon of Vanadzor medical center, Gevorg Azaryan, Vanadzor polyclinic’s ENT doctor, Anush Ispiryan, and the Deputy Director of Alaverdi Medical Center CJSC, Hovik Avetisyan participated in the competition. Surgeon Gevorg Azaryan who has been conducting surgeries in MC for about ten years, won the competition. According to the publication, the Lori governor is trying to do his best not to nominate a candidate for the post. It is said that the position was kept for the minister’s close friend.
The news that people with hepatitis C will get free medicine, which by the way, are quite expensive, was positively assessed. Arsen Torosyan posted a video on the Internet where he and his daughter urge to fight against selective abortions.
