Armenia to Provide Free Next-Generation Glucose Sensors for 1,100 Children with Diabetes

The Armenian government has approved a new healthcare initiative that will provide free next-generation glucose monitoring systems to 1,100 children living with diabetes. The decision was adopted during a Cabinet meeting on October 23 as part of amendments to the 2025 state budget and related government programs.

According to Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan, the government will allocate 570 million AMD to introduce a continuous glucose monitoring system for children aged 10 to 18. This follows an earlier allocation of 181 million AMD for children aged 0 to 9, expanding access to the technology for all minors with diabetes.

Avanesyan explained that the program aims to create a comprehensive, cost-effective, and accurate diabetes management system that improves both the health and quality of life of children. The new system will use advanced digital sensors that automatically track blood sugar levels, eliminating the need for frequent finger pricks.

“Our beneficiaries currently measure their blood glucose 5–6 times a day, and finger pricks pose both psychological and organizational challenges. Children often refuse these measurements, which can lead to incorrect insulin dosing,” Avanesyan said.

The new devices will provide more precise control over insulin administration. Data collected by the system will be transmitted digitally, allowing doctors, parents, and caregivers to monitor the child’s health remotely. This will help ensure timely adjustments to treatment and reduce the burden on families.

The minister also announced that the number of test strips available to young people with diabetes up to age 28 will be increased next year, including for those aged 18 to 28. She described this as a major step toward bringing Armenia in line with modern international standards for diabetes management.

Avanesyan stressed that these measures aim to change the way diabetes is viewed in Armenia. “All these measures also aim to ensure that children are not considered disabled. With modern medications and devices, diabetes becomes a manageable lifestyle, and our policy is to ensure children’s full life, functionality, and to move away from the previous logic of disability,” she said.

The Ministry of Health plans to distribute the new glucose monitoring systems in stages by the end of 2025. Families will be invited along with their doctors and nurses to receive hands-on training on how to use the devices. Each group of children will be equipped with the system before the end of the year.

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