20 August 2025, Wednesday

In the Republic of Armenia, initial and periodic medical examinations are required in certain fields, especially for employees who work in environments where harmful and dangerous factors are present.

The purpose of the initial medical examination is to assess the health condition of the applicants. To see whether their physical and medical state allows them to work in these settings and to make sure that there are no medical restrictions. Carrying out the examination before employment helps prevent workplace accidents, also general, occupational, infectious, and parasitic diseases. This also ensures the safety and health of the working population.

Apart from the initial mandatory medical examination, workers in jobs with harmful or dangerous conditions must also undergo periodic medical examinations. The purpose of these examinations is to monitor their health condition, prevent occupational diseases, and detect their early symptoms on time.

Both the initial and periodic medical examinations of employees must be carried out under a contract between the organization and a medical institution that is licensed to operate as required by law.

The Ministry of Health of the RA approves the list of the medical specialists included in the medical commission carrying out the examinations, along with the laboratory, instrumental, and functional tests that need to be conducted.

 

Organizing Periodic Medical Examinations for Employees

 

Periodic medical examinations are organized once a year. They are required for employees who, during their work, are exposed to harmful and dangerous factors  in the workplace and the work process.

The periodic examination is organized according to the company’s work schedule, in order to make sure that employees can receive medical services at convenient times. When needed, the medical institution, the employer, and the State Hygienic and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter referred to as the Inspectorate) can send employees for an unscheduled examination, which will be at the expense of the organization. The referral must state the reason for sending the employee to an unscheduled examination.

The company’s management makes sure that employees attend their medical examinations on time and bears responsibility for this. They are also responsible for allowing individuals who have not had the initial or periodic medical examinations, or who have medical restrictions, to work.

If during periodic medical examinations  diseases are found that constitute medical contraindications for the given working conditions, decisions whether they can continue working are made in accordance with the established legislation of the Republic of Armenia.

All medical examination data is recorded in official medical documents. The medical institution provides a written summary of periodic medical examination results, in the form of a final report, to the company and the Inspectorate within 15 days.

During the medical examination, if there are identified any suspected case of occupational diseases (based on the final report), the medical institution conducting the examination sends the employees, according to established procedures, to a specialized medical organization that is approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia. This is done to confirm the preliminary diagnosis through special tests and to see if the disease is related to the work. 

The medical conclusion about temporary or permanent transfer of an employee because of professional fitness or health condition must be followed by the company’s management.

 

Initial (Pre-Employment) Medical Examinations for Employees

 

Anyone who is to be employed under conditions that involve harmful and dangerous factors listed in Annex N 2 of government decision N 1089-N, July 15, 2004, of the Republic of Armenia, must undergo an initial medical examination.

The employee subject to medical examination must go to a licensed medical institution with a referral issued by the company’s management. The referral must include the person’s full name, date of birth (year, month, day), profession, and the list of harmful and dangerous factors at the workplace.

A transfer to another job with the same profession and under similar conditions is considered a continuation of employment. In that case, a periodic medical examination is carried out within the prescribed timeframes.

The results of the medical examination are written in official medical documents. Each person who undergoes the initial medical examination, receives a final conclusion on whether they are fit for the job, based on their health condition.

If the employee passes the initial examination and is found fit to work in conditions with harmful factors, receive a conclusion through the detachable part of the referral form.

If the person is not allowed to work under such conditions, the conclusion is not given directly to them. Instead, the referral is sent to the company’s management within three days.

 

Source: Government Decision N1089-N of July 15, 2004, Republic of Armenia