The Medical University, represented by YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan, hosted a delegation led by Irena Hrstić, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Croatia.
“It is a great honor to welcome you to the Medical University. My colleagues and I represent our university, which boasts a century-long history. Your visit today coincides with a period of major, transformative changes in our country—specifically, the launch of universal health coverage a year ago. Although there are still three months left before the year concludes, it is difficult to imagine how we operated outside of this system in the past,” the YSMU Rector said.
He then presented the University’s structure and capabilities. With a history spanning over 100 years, the educational institution has also been exporting education services for the past 35 to 40 years. Currently, around 2,000 students from 34 countries are pursuing their medical education here. The number of international students is increasing year by year, as is competition—not only within Armenia but across the region—a trend driven by the Medical University’s international recognition.
Emphasizing that the personal presence of the Minister and her colleagues would be an honor, the Rector extended an official invitation to the Minister to attend the Armenian Medical World Congress 2027 (AMWC-2027).
Croatia’s Minister of Health, Irena Hrstić, expressed gratitude for the invitation to this significant event—scheduled to take place in Yerevan next July—and noted that she had attended the official launch of the EU-funded “Twinning” project, “Support for the Implementation of Universal Health Coverage Reform in Armenia,” the previous day, and had met with the head and representatives of the responsible institution. “It is an honor for me to be here, given the traditions and the quality of medical education you provide,” Irena Hrstić said in her welcoming remarks, expressing particular interest in the activities and status of the Faculty of Military Medicine. She noted that they were open to cooperation and the implementation of joint programs.
A tour of YSMU’s “COBRAIN” Scientific-Educational Center for Fundamental Brain Research was followed by a lecture titled “Global Healthcare Trends: Croatia’s Experience,” delivered by Irena Hrstić—Croatia’s Minister of Health, an Associate Professor, and a Doctor of Medical Sciences.
The Rector presented Irena Hrstić with the certificate of Visiting Professor at YSMU, ensuring she would have ongoing opportunities to collaborate with the Medical University within a professional context.
