Georgia: Zurab Azarashvili, Georgian Health Minister, on Wednesday, discussed future plans to ensure increased access to health care services for the population in the parliament.
The Health Minister said he is actively working with specialists to create a state-funded stroke and trauma rehabilitation package. In addition, funding for early diagnosis of cancer is a priority.
“Country statistics indicate that of the 9435 new cases registered in 2020, in stages I and II, only 41% were diagnosed.” Universal Healthcare Program plans to plan the cost of high-tech tests that allow patients and physicians to diagnose cancer in a timely manner. Fortunately, high-tech research capabilities are rapidly developing in Georgia, including PET/CT, a nuclear medicine research method and an alternative to cancer diagnosis. The Ministry is working to integrate pet scanning into the universal healthcare program, which will actually prevent a host of complications associated with the late diagnosis of cancer and improve patient survival rates. This will enable our citizens to enjoy these services, with full financing or with a small co-payment,” Zurab Azarashvili said.
He said, for rapid response to patient needs under the Universal Healthcare Program, the waiting period will be reduced to 2 months at this stage. Zurab Azarashvili emphasized that citizens will not have to wait to get the medical services they deserve.
The Minister of Health also talked about the treatment of Georgian citizens abroad and noted that the Ministry had expanded its cooperation with clinics in Turkey, Germany and Israel.
“In order for Georgian citizens to have better access to services abroad, which are not yet possible in Georgia, the Ministry has expanded its cooperation with clinics where patients are referred the most frequently. The Ministry welcomes and promotes the active involvement of Georgian doctors abroad in the ongoing processes in the medical field in Georgia. We are proud to cooperate with our compatriots in the world’s best clinics, whose professional advice and expertise can provide serious help to doctors and patients in Georgia. This year for this purpose we have already created a consultation group of Georgian doctors working abroad”, – said Zurab Azarashvili.
