MEETING OF THE HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ISSUES COMMITTEE CONCERNING THE HOSPITAL SERVICE FINANCING REFORM
The Committee, within its oversight function, holds meetings concerning the hospital service financing reform.
Today, at the second meeting, the Committee members discussed the Hospital Service Financing Reform in Georgia: Outcomes and Challenges with the representatives of the hospitals of Tbilisi, as well as the Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kvemo Kartli regions.
The meeting was as well attended by the Minister of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Protection, Mikheil Sarjveladze; his First Deputy, Tamar Gabunia, and the representatives of the Ministry; as well as the Head of the UNDP project “Stronger Parliamentary Institutions in Georgia”, Nini Sarishvili.
The central topic of the meeting was the healthcare reform envisaging the financing of the hospital service, namely the financing model for the diagnosis-related groups (DRG).
“It is a crucial reform launched 1,5 years ago. Thus, we are to establish a new financing system, which is applied worldwide and has its pros and cons, which is the case for Georgia as well. Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, deriving from our oversight activity, the Committee opted to hold working meetings to discuss the problems that the hospitals encounter, outline the solutions and thus, ultimately ensure the protection of the rights of the patients, doctors and the representatives of the medical business sector”, - the Chair of the Committee, Zaza Lominadze noted.
According to the Health Minister, Mikheil Sarjveladze, the active engagement of the sector in the decision-making will highly benefit the process and the working meetings can safeguard making proper decisions.
The First Deputy Health Minister, Tamar Gabunia overviewed the DRG financing.
The attendees expressed their positions, underlining the advantages of DRG financing, and on the other hand, stressed the problems that linger in the sphere, offering their options for solutions. The parties agreed on the necessity of intensified communication with the field specialists for joint planning and solutions. As Z. Lominadze stated, the meetings will continue during the spring session.
Next meetings will be held in the regions with the representatives of all medical institutions participating in the DRG financing and universal healthcare programs.
The meeting, organized by the Health Committee, was backed by the UNDP project “Stronger Parliamentary Institutions in Georgia”.
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Tbilisi City Hall to launch free lung cancer screening programme from May 1
29.04.2026.16:53
“Tbilisi City Hall is to begin funding a lung cancer screening programme from May 1,” Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced today at a session of the Tbilisi Municipal Government.
According to the Mayor of Tbilisi, free screening will be available to active smokers aged 45 to 75 who are registered in the capital, as well as to those who have quit smoking within the past fifteen years.
“We have helped countless families and individuals through the projects of our City Health and Social Services Agency. Tbilisi City Hall is now taking the next step by funding a lung cancer screening programme. From May 1, the procedure will be entirely free of charge for eligible residents and will be financed by the City Health and Social Services Agency under its Disease Screening Programme. Active smokers aged between 45 and 75 who are registered in the capital, as well as those who quit within the last fifteen years, will be entitled to a free lung cancer screening,” said Kakha Kaladze.
He added that the parameters of the screening programme, including the eligible age range, were determined in close consultation with leading specialists in oncology, radiology and pulmonology. Participating clinics and expert practitioners were selected based on their experience and qualifications.
“The screening will involve a low-dose computed tomography scan, which will be read independently by two radiologists. In the event of differing assessments, a case conference will be convened with the involvement of a third radiologist. Tbilisi City Hall has selected leading clinics that meet the required standards in terms of specialist expertise and technical infrastructure to deliver the programme. At this stage, sixteen medical institutions located across different parts of the capital will be participating in the programme,” the Mayor stated.
Kaladze also noted that lung cancer ranks first in the world for cancer-related mortality, and that screening of high-risk individuals aids in early detection and can increase survival rates by as much as seventy per cent.
