Inpatient service permits to no longer be issued for facilities in residential buildings

Permits for inpatient services will no longer be issued to facilities located in residential buildings across Georgia, the Government Administration announced on Monday.

Revealed after a meeting of the cabinet of ministers led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the decision has come as part of the Georgian Health Ministry’s efforts to “improve the quality of medical services and ensure safety for patients”, the Administration also said.

In other changes, clinics will need to apply to the Regulation Agency for Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities to obtain permits for surgical services, with the regulatory body making a decision following its inspection of the medical venues.

In addition, medical staff providing the services will be requested to join the Uninterrupted Medical Education System - a platform ensuring maintenance of competency of medical professionals through their continued certification.

Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili said the Ministry had been “actively implementing various measures” since last year in order to improve the quality of services at clinics.

Ultimately, from 2025, all clinics involved in the Universal Healthcare Programme will have an obligation to meet international standards for clinics [...] I think very soon we will have significantly improved services [at the facilities]", Azarashvili said.

Existing surgical service providers will be required to ensure compliance to the new regulations until September 1.