Gov’t to finance treatment of children oncology patients in Israeli, Spanish, Turkish clinics

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.

In his comments, Minister Zurab Azarashvili said the state had “laid the foundation for a historic project” to provide quality healthcare and equal access to “high-quality” medical services within and outside the country for all children patients.

He also said the state has taken “full responsibility” and pledged to treat all children with oncological diagnoses in the “best clinics” around the world as a part of the ₾30 million ($12mln) programme with no budget limitations.

Hadas Ester Meitzad, the Israeli Ambassador in Georgia, said it was a “sign of honour in our eyes to take part in this important project that helps children and their families who are at a difficult stage in their lives".

She also noted it was an “additional milestone” in cooperation between Georgia and Israel and demonstrated the latter’s “dedication to offering its capabilities and knowledge to our friends around the world”.

Photo: Ministry of Health/Facebook

Professor Ronit Elhasid, the Director of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department at Ichilov Medical Centre in Israel, said the venue had “all the facilities to take care of children with this diagnosis”, adding the Centre was “delighted to share our resources, knowledge, and expertise with Georgia”.

Ekaterine Pestvenidze, the Acting Executive Director of the Solidarity Fund - established in 2014 on the initiative of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to encourage donations for covering treatment for children with cancer and other priority social needs - held a presentation on the programme and discussed opportunities for recipients, noting one of the Fund’s beneficiaries was preparing to visit the Turkish facility involved in the deal for treatment.

Photo: Ministry of Health/Facebook

Marta Cremades, the Managing Director at Quirónsalud Proton Therapy Centre in Spain, said the facility would provide proton therapy to its patients and added 10 Georgian children had received treatment at the facility with “excellent” outcomes and no delays during therapy, which she said had proceeded “extremely swiftly”. 

Cremades added the medical Centre’s relations with the Georgian authorities would remain “positive” to ensure children patients would “not miss their chance to begin treatment” as timely procedures were “crucial” in oncology.

Photo: Ministry of Health/Facebook

Azarashvili noted the Government had also taken "novel steps" to ensure “vital” health services for children with oncology diagnoses domestically at the end of last year, on the initiative of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. He said providing access to "quality" medical services for children was "clearly reflected" in the Government policy and long-term strategy and indicating a full range of high-quality medical services would be made available in the country “in the shortest amount of time”.

The official noted the Government was working with international partners who have a “vast knowledge and the best practises” to establish a “modern and innovative” children's cancer centre of international standards for the purpose, adding “effective actions” had already been taken to develop a multiprofile clinic based on the state, and “active work” had begun based on the advice of experienced specialists.

The Ministry also said the package also included optional proton therapy in addition to the standard treatment course of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.