YEREVAN, November 20. News-Armenia. Health is undoubtedly a person's main value, so everyone strives to entrust their care only to the best doctors. Anna Karakatsanis, the founder of German company Medperfekt, spoke in an interview with Novosti-Armenia News Agency about the company's unique opportunities. The company is ready to help its Armenian patients find the best specialists and clinics in Germany.
“News-Armenia” - Your company is engaged in organizing diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation in the best clinics and by the best specialists in Germany, as well as organizing internships for doctors. Judging by the name of the company - Medperfekt, do you strive for perfection?
А. Karakatsanis - This is indeed true. We treat the health of our potential patients as responsibly as we would treat the health of our relatives or our own.
“News-Armenia” - In case of what health problems can I address you?
А. Karakatsanis - We work in all fields of medicine, so we can be approached with any problem.
“News-Armenia” - Let's start with the training of doctors. Please, tell us about your programs of medical internship.
А. Karakatsanis - We work in all fields of medicine, so we can be approached with any problem.
“News-Armenia” - Let's start with the training of doctors. Please, tell us about your programs of medical internship.
А. Karakatsanis - We offer individualized internship programs for medical students and physicians. What is their essence? For example, if we are approached by third, fourth, and fifth year students who have not yet decided on their specialty, they can come to Germany for an individual internship. This usually lasts from a week to three months, but can continue into the following year. During this time, the interns will have a clear idea of what specialty they will choose.
We started organizing internships this year, but we already have a lot of applications. Some of them have even managed to complete the internship, including those from Armenia. There is also a program to improve the qualification of doctors, who want to get acquainted with modern methods of diagnostics and treatment, learn new medical equipment in Germany. For example, now in Germany they have introduced protocols for the treatment of bladder cancer in a non-invasive way. This is not available anywhere else. And we are currently cooperating with urologists in Yerevan, who would like to come to Germany and study the experience of German specialists.
We started organizing internships this year, but we already have a lot of applications. Some of them have even managed to complete the internship, including those from Armenia. There is also a program to improve the qualification of doctors, who want to get acquainted with modern methods of diagnostics and treatment, learn new medical equipment in Germany. For example, now in Germany they have introduced protocols for the treatment of bladder cancer in a non-invasive way. This is not available anywhere else. And we are currently cooperating with urologists in Yerevan, who would like to come to Germany and study the experience of German specialists.
“News-Armenia” - The most difficult thing in medicine is diagnosis. Why should patients trust your specialists?
А. Karakatsanis - There is already a perception that Germany has the best diagnostics. And this is true thanks to research institutes such as Max Plank and Frauenhofer, advanced equipment from Siemens Healthineers, Phillips. We have a lot of people coming to us with misdiagnoses. Sometimes even biopsies are taken in Armenia, and the results of the analysis are sent to Germany for additional testing to determine the type of cancer and prescribe the right treatment for the patient.
“News-Armenia” - And there were cases when you were able to help?
А. Karakatsanis - Yes, of course. We have a lot of patients in remission who come for checkups periodically. Usually, if it is oncology, a person comes first every month, is checked, then every three months, then every six months. We are happy that the purpose of their visits is just to check up.
“News-Armenia” - Medperfekt intends to make the achievements of modern innovative medicine available to the residents of Armenia and, in particular, the Goght village in Kotayk, where the modern Goght Urban Valley is being built. As far as I know, even a joint project with Goght is being developed. Please tell us about this program.
А. Karakatsanis - Actually, this program is still under development, so I cannot tell you much about it. First of all, it is planned to organize online consultations between Armenian and German specialists. We also intend to bring here the latest technical achievements of Germany in the field of medicine.
“News-Armenia” - So, a person, conditionally, applies to your specialists, provides his/her medical history with all the tests, after which online or offline diagnostics is organized?
А. Karakatsanis - If it is possible, online. In some cases it is possible, in some cases it is not. Well, look, suppose there are some problems with dementia in one of the family members and you need the help of a neurologist who will select and monitor medications. In this case, you don't necessarily need to come to the doctor's office. Our neurologist can consult remotely and we have similar experience that can be applied in Gochta.
“News-Armenia” - If it is impossible to make a diagnosis locally, can you organize for a person to go to Germany for examination?
А. Karakatsanis - Yes, definitely. We help to obtain a medical visa in Armenia, we organize an invitation both from the host clinic and from our side. We officially confirm that the patient will come here and be examined by such doctors at such and such addresses. We also confirm that we in Germany will receive him, meet him and accompany him throughout his trip. This invitation usually plays a huge role when a person applies for a medical visa at the embassy.
“News-Armenia” - And if we are talking about some preventive measures, is it also possible?
А. Karakatsanis - If a person wants to come, then yes, no problem. We often have people come to us for checkups.
“News-Armenia” - Is it planned that your specialists will conduct screenings directly in Gokht?
А. Karakatsanis - All conditions will be created for this. We will have no problem organizing, for example, a reception day for a particular German specialist. Yes, this is planned.
“News-Armenia” - What is the ‘trick’ of Medperfekt?
А. Karakatsanis - We understand perfectly well the state of mind of a person who comes for treatment abroad. He is scared: he doesn't know the language, he doesn't know in whose hands he will fall, he is worried about the diagnosis. That is why we are in touch with him as soon as he calls us. When he comes to Germany, we are always there for him. We have interpreters, drivers. In other words, a person coming to Germany can fully rely on us, we will never abandon him. If there is a problem, we will always help him to solve it. You know, there have been cases when people have come and refused our services, saying they speak English and can organize everything themselves. But, first of all, we have been working since 2012. We already have our network of doctors and clinics. We can make appointments without any problems. It happens that a person arrives, but the doctor is sick and can see the patient only in a week. In this case, we can send him to another specialist who is just as good. Or there are problems with payment. The invoice is wrong, and even in German. In general, we accompany people every step of the way and try to check everything thoroughly.
I would like to point out that our company is a representative of the European Medical Center in Russia. Our cooperation began two years ago. And if there is a need for some kind of consultations for a patient who is in Russia and cannot come to Germany because he does not have a visa or is not transportable, we will organize these consultations with German doctors for him. Right now we have an oncology patient who is unable to travel to Germany. However, German doctors call her doctors in Russia and determine further treatment. In addition to Russia, we also organize consultations with German doctors for patients in Dubai.
“News-Armenia” - Quality medical services are very expensive all over the world. Is anything being done to ease the burden of patients?
А. Karakatsanis - We have, in particular, a special program for Ameriabank clients. Those who wish to use our services will be given discounts. These are discounts for the accompaniment of, for example, an interpreter. There are also plans to develop credit lines for medical students wishing to do an internship in Germany. -0-