On October 23, in Gyumri, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the foundation laying ceremony of the multifield medical center “Gyumri”. The center will be constructed under an optimization program, using the facilities of the Gyulbenkyan surgical center, Shirak regional hospital and the “Samariter” hospital. The construction of the U.S. $11 million worth medical center is to be completed by 2012. The center is designed for 200 patients. The construction project is being implemented under the WB health system improvement project. Under the optimization program all medical specialists will be permanently employed.