Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan hosted a delegation of World Bank experts implementing healthcare programs in Armenia.  Minister of Health Harutyun Kushkyan was also present at the meeting. The Deputy Prime Minister was updated about the progress of the first and second credit programs for Health System Modernization and was presented with the issues facing the newest program in this area.  It was noted that the first credit program was drawing to a close and that the choice of hospitals included in the program had been correct from the point of view of functionality and location. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the work carried out and noted the importance of providing quality healthcare in the regions, which was considered a pre-requisite for uniform development across the country. It was noted that the new program, Additional Financing for Health System Modernization, was the logical continuation of the previous two and would aim to re-equip a number of regional hospitals, the renovation and re-equipping of the hospitals in Abovyan and Alaverdi as well as the construction of a new hospital in Meghri. Mr. Gevorgyan proposed including the hospital at Kapan as well, considering the complex geography of the province of Syunik, the fact that the city was an industrial center and its perspectives for development.  Based on political, economic, demographic and healthcare considerations, the province of Syunik should have three centers, Goris, Kapan and Meghri-Agarak, according to the Deputy Prime Minister. The new program will be presented to the Board of Directors of the World Bank in October and is expected to start next year.