The Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Mikheil Sarjveladze, took part in a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The meeting was held during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, in New York.
The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia shared glimpses of the event a small note about the meeting on its official Facebook Page on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
During his speech, the minister spoke about Georgia’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that, at the onset of the pandemic, the country rapidly mobilized public health institutions, increased epidemiological surveillance, laboratory research, and emergency response capabilities.
During the pandemic, hospital facilities have been expanded, medical staff have been mobilized, remote patient management through primary care has been implemented, and a nationwide vaccination program has been implemented.
The Minister of Health, Mikheil Sarjveladze focused attention on the measures already implemented in the direction of prevention and preparedness for pandemics. According to the minister, Georgia initiated a project with support of the Pandemic Foundation, which aims to strengthen the surveillance of disease epidemics, expand the capabilities of genomic sequencing and the early detection of new health threats.
According to him, the project reinforces the “one health” approach, as well as coordination between healthcare, environment and agriculture.
The Minister also spoke about comprehensive primary health care reform starting in 2025, aimed at improving prevention, health care continuity and management of chronic disease, and strengthening the health system’s capability to respond effectively to emergencies.
