Healthcare in Georgia (country)
[4] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves only 86.8% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income.
The first dramatic change was implemented in 1995, when the budget transfers were complemented with additional sources of the financing: the mandatory health insurance contributions (employer and the employee mandatory contribution - 3% and 1% respectively), funds allocated for Healthcare from the territorial budgets, official co-payment for medical services, which could not be financed by the state programs.
The state retained control over a few medical facilities dealing with mental illness and infectious diseases, while all other hospitals and clinics were privatized.
[8] The 2020 average life expectancy in Georgia, estimated by the World Bank Group, was 73.92 years: 69.51 for males and 78.27 for females.
Administration and management of the Health and Social care State Programs including UHC is providing by SSA, which is subordinated institution under the MoLHSA.
SSA's territorial offices are located at 68 municipalities and more than 2000 are employed in them[16] The NCDC is a legal entity of Public Law accountable to the MoLHSA with a dedicated line in the State budget.
The NCDC provides national leadership in preventing and controlling communicable and non-communicable diseases through developing national standards and guidelines, health promotion, disease surveillance, immunization, laboratory work, research, providing expert advice, and responding to public health emergencies.
[17] SRAMA formally responsible for issuing and control the licenses and permits for health care facilities, regulating medical professionals and pharmaceuticals.
[18] ESC&UAC Ensures/coordinates quality emergency medical and referral assistance for improving the state of health of the population during the disaster and martial law situation.
Since 2005, the major activity of professional associations has been supporting the MoLHSA in its endeavor to elaborate national clinical practice guidelines and protocols.
Numerous international partners such as WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, USAID, EU, Global Fund, etc.
[8] 2007 can be considered as the new phase of the Reform, as the government of Georgia decided to delegate management of state allocations for health insurance for targeted groups of population (the poor, teachers, law enforcement officers and military personnel), to the private insurance companies, which have become the health service purchaser for the mentioned population groups.
The UHC Program extended publicly financed entitlement to health care coverage to the entire population.
The benefits package covers a range of primary and secondary care services and limited essential drugs.
In this respect, Georgia is experiencing a steep increase in its health sector spending, which is consistent with other middle-income countries’ experience at the time of UHC introduction.
Following the introduction of the universal health care program, a rapid growth of the admissions was observed in both outpatient and inpatient institutions.
[1] The research carried out by the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the US Agency for International Development revealed the main achievements of the Universal health Care Program: increased access to medical services, increased use of medical services, and reduction of financial barriers and expansion of coverage.
The basic object of reform is to provide services more oriented on need and to develop the approach -"social equity".
