Gov’t to finance “full treatment” of 300 children cancer patients abroad, says PM
The Government will finance treatment for 300 children cancer patients in the country in the “best clinics” around the world in a ₾30 million annual programme, PM Garibashvili announced. Photo: PM's press office
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The Georgian Government will finance treatment for 300 children cancer patients in the country in the “best clinics” around the world in a ₾30 million ($12mln) annual programme, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced on Monday.
Garibashvili said ₾10 million ($4mln) per year was spent in treatment of children patients in the country, but noted domestic facilities lacked some of the requirements to ensure treatment of young patients, leading the Government to deciding to finance medical procedures - including options such as proton therapy, radiation and others - abroad, for €10,000 per course.
Not everyone has the opportunity to afford this, and neither does the state, because we have certain restrictions in this direction - such services are financed by the state programme of referral services - so this issue was unsettled and undecided previously”, he explained.
According to our decision, 300 oncology patients will be fully financed by the state. We have selected the best clinics in the world where these children will be treated”, the PM added, noting the costs would include accommodation and travel.
Garibashvili said the latest initiative was coming on the back of the efforts made through the Solidarity Fund, created in 2014 on his initiative to encourage donations for covering treatment for children with cancer and other priority social needs.
He also pointed out children patients with diabetes received benefits from ₾30 million ($12mln) in annual state financing under a programme that had been expanded recently to include both analysis and treatment.
Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili on Monday said the Ministry would finance "year-long medication needs" for oncology patients and was in talks with drug manufacturers.
Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Monday said the Government funding of domestic healthcare programmes had hit ₾7 billion ($2.7 billion) over the past 10 years, in comments marking an anniversary of the State Universal Healthcare Programme.
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.
Oncology patients in Georgia will be able to complete full courses of drug treatment with state funding. There are more than 38,000 oncology patients in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the Government had allocated ₾465 million ($185.65mln) to raise monthly assistance to socially vulnerable children to ₾200 ($79.85) this year.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the complication with ensuring access to Voxzogo (vosoritide), an experimental drug for treating achondroplasia, for children in the country was its potential side effects and not funding from his Government.
Paediatric oncology and provision of children patients with “high quality, contemporary” healthcare services represents a “priority” of the Ministry of Health of Georgia, First Deputy Minister Tamar Gabunia said on Monday.
Georgian Prime MInister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said ensuring care for children was among his Government’s “top priorities”, in comments on International Day for Protection of Children. Garibashvili extended his message for “peace, health, prosperity and progress to every child in our country” on the date, and said ensuring equal access to healthcare and education for all children was “vitally important”.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Thursday hosted children of servicemembers killed in conflicts for the country’s territorial integrity, international peacekeeping missions and in other official duties, in a move marking International Children’s Day.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said “thousands” of the country’s citizens had benefited from budget-funded social and medical programmes, and pledged several of the packages would be extended.
The Georgian Ministry of Health and medical institutions in Israel, Spain and Turkey will sign agreements on cooperation this month to offer treatment to 300 children patients of cancer in Georgia in a ₾30 million ($11.56mln) annual programme. The programme - fully financed by the state - would be a “transitional stage” until services are strengthened in Georgia, and a children's oncology centre, equipped with modern standards and high-tech equipment, is created in the country.
The Georgian Government will fully finance treatment of children with oncological diseases in medical institutions of Israel, Spain and Turkey after signing a deal on cooperation with partner clinics on Monday, the Health Ministry announced.
Hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and medicines will be financed for all oncology patients throughout Georgia, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.
The Georgian Government on Monday said it would fund oncological surgery, both planned and emergency, for all cancer patients without the state-funded insurance, and announced tougher regulations for dental service providers to ensure higher standards for safety.
Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili on Monday said 100 to 150 “successful” students from domestic medical institutions would have costs of their study and accommodation abroad funded by the Ministry.