Gov’t pledges to fund treatment for Aids, tuberculosis and malaria

The current Government of Georgia is pledging to take responsibility to fund the treatment of Aids, tuberculosis and malaria for all sufferers in Georgia. 

The country’s Health Minister Davit Sergeenko today announced the country’s leaders had adopted a new national model of treating the three illnesses that would reduce Georgia’s dependency on foreign aid.

Until now financing of medical treatment for the three illnesses had been allocated by the Global  Foundation, a global fund focused on putting an end to Aids, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics worldwide. 

The Global Foundation fund raised an invested nearly $4 billion USD a year to support programs run by local experts in countries and communities most in need. The Foundation has been financing treatment in Georgia since 2006 and spent $100 million USD so far.  

However over the next three years this financing would be "gradually decreased”, Sergeenko said.

If the current Government remained in power following next year’s elections, the state would slowly replace Global Foundation financing, starting at five percent and increasing up to 75 percent over the next three years. The remaining costs would continue to be financed by the Global  Foundation.

Then after the third year we should completely, 100 percent replace the Global Fund in this role,” the Minister said, confirming that in three years’ time the Government will cover the full cost of treatment.

Sergeenko added the current Government would also continue to cover the cost of treatment for Hepatitis C for those who were in dire need of treatment. These people would receive costly, modern medicines, he said.