Georgian Health Minister discusses Covid-19 impact at UN General Assembly

Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili on Thursday discussed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, efforts for its prevention and future plans of his office at a United Nations General Assembly meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York.

Azarashvili said the pandemic had demonstrated the need for a “multi-sectoral response” by affecting not only the healthcare sector but also economy, society and day-to-day activities, and noted it had also “served as a reminder” that the healthcare sector could not address all the issues posed by the pandemic on its own.

He said “required adjustments and necessary expenditures” should be made in light of the experience gained as a result of the pandemic to ensure the world remained “better equipped” to handle “such a significant issue” in the future, the Ministry said.

The Minister stressed his Government prioritised strengthening preparedness and response to public health risks by establishing public health response centres, including at the regional level.

He said the aim during emergency situations was to make operational decisions, collect data and information, compare, analyse and respond in a “timely manner”.

Azarashvili is scheduled to participate in high-level meetings at the Assembly on the importance of equal access to health services and the fight against tuberculosis.