Georgia’s universal healthcare programme increases annual limit on cancer medications by 8,000 GEL

In order to help oncology patients in Georgia to complete full courses of drug treatment with state funding, amendments have been made to the Universal Healthcare programme which come into force today.

Starting September 1, 2020 the list of anti-cancer drugs within the Universal Healthcare programme is expanding and the annual limit on medicines per each patient will be increased by 8,000 GEL. 

• Socially vulnerable families who have a rating score of  70,000, teachers, artists, IDPs, orphans, shelter beneficiaries and veterans will receive 20,000 GEL instead of 12,000 GEL.
• Children (0-5 years old), retirees, children with disabilities, people with severe disabilities and students will receive 23,000 GEL instead of 15,000 GEL.

In addition a new group of anti-cancer drugs will be added to chemotherapy, hormone, and radiation therapy treatment. The new anti-cancer drugs are monoclonal antibodies, protein kinase inhibitors, and bisphosphonates. 

Earlier Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said that until now patients received funding for drugs only at a certain stage of treatment and they would not be able to complete the treatment because they could not afford it.  

• Oncology patients to complete full course of drug treatment with state funding

She said that currently the state offers two programmes for cancer patients. 

One envisages financing with 12,000 GEL, the other with 15,000 GEL. Tikaradze said that 8,000 GEL will be added to both programmes.

Tikaradze said that there are more than 38,000 oncology patients in Georgia.