Genetic diseases contribute to a significant proportion of health problems. About 5.5% of the population is expected to develop a genetic or partly genetic condition by the age of 25. Fifty percent of admissions to paediatric hospitals are due to genetic and developmental disorders. One out of ten patients who consult primary care physicians and clinical specialists have diseases that are in part due to genetic factors. Advances in knowledge of human genetics have led to a better understanding of the molecular basis of disease and has consequently resulted in improved clinical diagnosis and in novel approaches to prevention and treatment of genetic diseases. In parallel, the accompanying wide public awareness of these developments has raised expectations regarding more accurate assessment of genetic risk of individuals and within families and treatment of genetic disease. 

During 2004-2008 the Council of Europe developed recommendations to member states on the impact of genetics on the organisation of health care services and training of health professionals; these have been accepted by the Committee of Ministers of Member States. The recommendation is in accordance with certified international guidelines (EuroGentest, EMQN, Orphanet) and are the base for the development of genetic services, education, and research in Armenia which is extremely important for the modern health care system of Armenia. 

For objective assessment of the state of the field of medical genetics in Armenia and Israel, four universities from partner countries developed and published two different genetic health policy briefs directed at a specific or a wider audience involved in or impacted by respective issues and who has the power and resources to implement the policy recommendations. These documents involve recommendations in the form of specific questions addressed to different groups of genetic/hereditary disorders, access and quality of medical genetic services in Armenia and Israel.