YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The "Azatagrutiun" organization of Marseilles–France and the National Health Care Institute of Armenia have founded an Armenian-French Center for Artificial Insemination in Yerevan. The Center operates through the gynecological department of the Erebuni Medical Center and the Diagnostics joint stock company through the assistance of the French Foreign Ministry.
As reported by Andranik Hakobian–chairman of Azatagrutiun–the program began in 1992. In 1995–several Armenian doctors–mostly gynecologists and biologists–were trained at the Institute of Reproductive Medicine of Marseilles–one of the leading centers of Europe in the field of reproductive medicine. According to Hakobian–the Center is prepared to deal with not only artificial insemination–but all forms of sterility.
Noting that the scientific and intellectual potential of Armenian medicine is up to par–a gynecologist from the Marseilles Institute Jean-Pierre Frankbalm said that it is necessary to upgrade the technology at the medical facilities.
According to Frankbalm–the Center in Armenia is expected to be successful in the field. He noted that the Marseilles Institute carries out 1,300 inseminations with a 25 percent annual success rate.