Georgian Health Minister: Gov’t to launch centre for oncology treatment in children
Sarjveladze added a “new methodology” would be established for the purpose within the next month. Photo: Government Administration
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian Government is working on launching a centre for treatment of oncological diseases in children to ensure availability of services similar to those in “developed foreign countries”, Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Georgian Health Minister, said on Monday.
Work is underway on this idea [on launching a centre for treatment of oncological diseases in children] so that no one has to take a child who may be diagnosed with cancer abroad for treatment. This is a rather complex, difficult issue, and several versions are being discussed”, he added.
After the weekly Government meeting on Monday the Minister noted his office was also working with local clinics to simplify treatment for patients with oncological diagnoses who were undergoing chemotherapy courses, and to make medicines “more easily available” for them.
Sarjveladze added a “new methodology” would be established for the purpose within the next month.
Georgian Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze on Tuesday held an introductory meeting with representatives from the sector, heads of domestic clinics and a Healthcare Association to discuss ongoing reforms.
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 Friday said the Government would allocate an additional ₾65 million ($23 mln) to the Healthcare Ministry to finance early treatment for oncology patients in next year's budget, with a total spending of ₾7.8 billion ($2,873).
The Ministry of Health of Georgia on Thursday announced three new clinics were added to the state programme financing oncological treatment of children under 18 at foreign medical institutions.