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Georgia: Healthcare System
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 Georgia,
situated in the Caucasus region of Eurasia, is a sovereign state.
It is considered to be the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern
Europe. To the west Georgia is bordered by the Black Sea, Russia
lies to the north, Turkey to the southwest, Armenia to the south
and Azerbaijan to the southeast. Georgia has a population of 4.7
million people dispersed over a land mass of 69,700 squares km.
The official language is Georgian, the local currency is the Lari
(GEL) and the capital city is Tbilisi. Georgia gained is
independence from the Russian Empire on May 26th 1918 and
independence from the Soviet Union on April 9th 1991 which was
finalized on December 25th 1991.
Governance is the form of a democratic semi-presidential republic.
The President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the
head of government. Gross domestic product in 2010 accounted for
US$22.443 billion giving a per capita earning of US$4,900. From
2007 to 2009 Georgia’s GDP shrunk by 3.8 percent due to the global
economic downturn, however there was improvement in the aftermath
of the global recession with the economy experiencing a real
growth rate of 6.4 percent in 2010. The agriculture sector
accounted for 11 percent of GDP, industry 27.1 percent and
services 62 percent. The percentage of the labour force employed
in each sector according to 2006 figures was: Agriculture 55.6
percent, industry 8.9 percent, services 35.5 percent. That same
year it was estimated that 31 percent of the population lived
below the international poverty line of US$1.25 per day. The
unemployment rate for Georgians in 2009 was 16.4 percent.
Georgia’s main agricultural products are citrus, grapes, tea,
hazelnuts, vegetables and livestock.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs of Georgia,
under the directive of the Cabinet of Georgia, is responsible for
the regulation of the health care system, labour issues and
security. The President directly appoints the Minister of Health
who oversees the 16 departments and agencies that make up the
Ministry of Health. The core function of the Ministry of Health is
to provide medical health services, both public and private, to
the Georgian people and ensure adequate regulation of medical and
pharmaceutical procedures within the country. Funding for the
Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs is provided by the
State United Social Insurance Fund and by the Ministry of Finance
of Georgia.
As part of a recent initiative, the ministry plans to open 46 new
hospitals by the end of 2011. This is in tandem with an extensive
campaign to privatize a number of medical services, which has
brought extensive change to the country’s healthcare system. From
1995 to 1996 nearly all pharmacies and dental clinics within the
country were privatised. In 1997 all health facilities were
overhauled in order to become autonomous, which resulted in
hospitals and polyclinics becoming independent in regards to
management, and saw the countries medical facilities uptake
individual responsibility for all internal budgets and employment
contracts.
These changes meant that all staff at employed by the Georgian
state within the country’s healthcare system became independent
healthcare providers, or sole employees of the newly privatized
healthcare facilities where they worked. However, despite the move
towards an expanded private healthcare industry, the Georgian
government retains 100 percent ownership of the country’s
previously public hospitals and medical clinics.
The total Georgian expenditure on health care services in 2007, as
a percentage of GDP, was 8.2 percent. That gives a total per
capita spending on health care services of US$381.
As of 2007 there were 265 inpatient facilities with 14,565 beds in
Georgia, and 331.9 beds for every 100,000 people, according to the
WHO Regional Office for Europe. The same year there were 7,892
doctor positions within the health care system and 11,514
middle-level medical staff. However, due to ineffective reporting
of health information, and unreliable statistics from health
providers, the data on utilization and capacity is questionable.
In 2005 there were 674 primary health care facilities within
Georgia, including 180 polyclinics, 51 medical centres, 100 dental
clinics, 19 women’s consultation clinics, and 247 independent
ambulances. Pharmaceuticals are readily available in Georgia tax
free; however the distribution of essential medicines in rural
areas is inadequate.G Georgia is taking aims to improve the
distribution of medicines to local residents, and consequently the
pharmaceutical industry is one of the fastest growing markets in
the country. In 2007, there were 95 wholesale pharmacies and 2017
retailers.
There is roughly three times the number of doctors practicing in
Tbilisi, the country’s capital, as there are in other areas of the
country. The health care system experiences difficulties in
recruiting personnel for rural offices. In order to rectify this
issue funding incentives were put in place by the minister for
rural primary care doctors and nurses. Medical facilities outside
of Tbilisi are limited.
According to 2011 estimates the birth rate was 10.73 births per
1,000 persons, while the death rate was set at 9.92 deaths per
1,000 people; the overall population growth rate currently stands
at -0.326 percent. The infant mortality rate was estimated at
15.17 deaths per 1,000 live births while the average life
expectancy at birth is 73.8 years for males and 80.82 for females.
The total fertility rate is 1.45 children born per woman. The
percentage of the population living in urban areas in 2010 was
estimated at 53 percent however the rate of urbanization is
expected to decrease at a rate of -0.4 percent over the next five
years.
Before travelling to Georgia one should ensure that all routine
vaccinations are up-to-date. Consult with a professional medical
travel care expert at least eight weeks before departure. Rabies
is very common in Georgia therefore you should consider
inoculation before travelling to the country, especially if you
plan on spending time with animals, exercising outside, or staying
in rural locations for extended periods. Rabies is a viral disease
that causes inflammation of the brain. Rabies can be contracted
for wild or domestic animals and can be fatal unless post-exposure
prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is sought within ten days of the
infection. It is advised that you purchase comprehensive medical
insurance to cover the cost of medical services and emergency
evacuation if necessary.
The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Georgia is estimated at 0.1 percent
of the population. The UNAIDS/WHO Working group estimates that
3,400 adults are living with HIV in the country. In order to
prevent contraction you should exercise normal precautions.
Crimes perpetrated against foreigners are not uncommon. You should
not try to draw attention to yourself or your group and avoid
carrying large sums of money. Keep your passport in hotel safes
and always keep a copy separate encase the original is stolen.
There have been numerous incidents of car theft, petty crime,
robbery, residential break-ins and armed robbery throughout the
country.
There have been a number of muggings in the Narikala Fortress and
Mother Georgia area of Tbilisi. One should also exercise caution
in the tourist areas of Vake, Saburtalo and the bar area of
Perovskaya near Republic square. Power cuts still occur so it is
advisable to carry a torch.
It is not advised to travel to South Ossetia, Abkhazia and upper
Kodori Valley which are considered breakaway regions. One is also
advised to steer clear of the border regions of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. The M27 road or the M1 runs particularly close to South
Ossetia and should also be avoided if possible especially between
Stepantsminda/Gudauri turnoff and Gori and between Gori and
Khashuri. If you do have to travel in these areas do so during day
light hours. There are also some unexploded ordinances in these
areas due to the fighting that took place in August 2008.
It is illegal to enter Georgia on the border region of South
Ossetia or Abkhazia. If you do so then you may be prosecuted on
criminal charges which can carry a sentence of up to four years.
It is not permitted for you to enter or exit Georgia through the
borders with the Russian Federation under Russian Law. Border
crossings in Georgia with the Russian Federation are not opened to
tourist.
If you are in possession of an international driving license then
you are entitled to drive on Georgia. Georgians driving on the
right hand side of the road. There is a zero tolerance policy
towards drink driving through the whole of the country. Road are
generally in bad quality and poorly lit. You are advised to use
only licensed taxis. If you are travelling by air ensure that the
airline adheres to international safety standards.
Globalsurance can provide professional assistance for you or your
groups’ health care needs if you decide to travel to Georgia no
matter what stage of life you may be at. Our tailor made polices
cover a wide range of services from repartitions, transportation,
dental and many more. Call our team of world wide representatives
today to discuss, free of charge, the international health
insurance options available.
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