Georgian PM: gov’t will use all instruments to achieve reduced prices on medicines
Based on the UNICEF study in 2017, 69 per cent of the Georgian household healthcare costs is spent on medicines. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Georgian government will use all the instruments to reduce prices on medicines, said Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia earlier today.
By implementing the new regulations and new rules in a Drug Agency which controls the drug turnover it is possible to quickly reduce prices, he said.
There are some steps which can be taken to quickly create some beneficial effect for our citizens,” said Gakharia.
Unfortunately, the social conditions of the population of Georgia as well as the conditions globally has deteriorated as a result of the pandemic,” said Gakharia, noting that the problem of high prices on medicines are now more urgent amid the pandemic.
Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze informed the citizens on December 22 about the plans to implement a reform in order to regulate the prices of medicines.
She said that a memorandum has already been signed with Turkey on this issue and noted that this reform will give the public and the private sector the opportunity to know the real costs of the medicines.
Based on the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) study in 2017, 69 per cent of the Georgian household healthcare costs is spent on medicines.
On an average day, crypto-drug transactions worth more than $8,000 are made in Georgia. Similarly, on an average day, illicit substances with a value of over $35,000 are placed in secret locations around the country’s major cities of Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, reads the report 'Online markets for illicit drugs in Georgia'.
The Georgian Justice Ministry has opened the first ever Drug Situation Monitoring National Centre in Tbilisi which will have to respond to drug-related challenges in the country. The ministry says that to open the centre they have been “closely cooperating” with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) over the past five years.
Leading Georgian pharmacies have decided to decrease the price of anti-flu medicine Tamiflu, the cost of which formerly ranged between 72-99 GEL.
Four pharmacy chains have received an additional supply of anti-flu medicine Tamiflu, totalling 800 packages from the Ministry of Health.
Nineteen pharmacies have been found in the Georgian capital Tbilisi by the investigative service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry to be selling psychoactive drugs illegally.
A total of 1,097 cases of coronavirus, 3,208 recoveries and 25 deaths have been reported over the last 24 hours in Georgia. Archbishop Iakob of Bodbe, who recently tested positive for coronavirus, is currently undergoing treatment at First University Clinic in the Georgian capital of Georgia.