From: Maia Nikoleishvili <[email-masked]>
To: Ketevan Goginashvili <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2019 10:36:17 +0000

In 2013, the Government of Georgia launched the Universal Health Care (UHC) Program to improve access to health care services and strengthen financial protection of Georgian citizens.

UHC program covers the following services: Planned and emergency out-patient services; Planned surgery and emergency in-patient services; Cancer diagnostics and treatment: chemotherapy, hormone and radiation therapy and related medical examinations and medicines; Childbirth and caesarean section; In patient medical services during high-risk pregnancies, labor and postpartum period; Infectious diseases management.

From May 2017, new criteria for differentiation of beneficiaries (according to beneficiaries' revenue) was elaborated for provision of more need-oriented services and development of "social justice" approach. Socially vulnerable population (rating score not exceeding 100,000) are eligible for the state program providing drugs for chronic conditions. The program provides patients with selected drugs for chronic cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes (type 2) and thyroid gland conditions.

In addition to the UHC program, various targeted (public health and disease oriented) programs are applicable, which covers medical services in a wide range of important areas such as Immunization, Tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS, Drug Abuse, Maternal and Child Health, Hepatitis C, Mental Health, Diabetes, Onco-hematology, Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation, Palliative Care of Incurable Patients, Treatment of Patients with Rare Diseases, Urgent Emergency Assistance, Rural Doctor Program, Provision with Medications for Chronic Diseases, etc.

The cost of services that are not covered by other state programs is provided by the Individual Assistance Component of the State Program of Referral Service.