Three foreign clinics added to Gov’t programme for children oncology patients
The body said more than 50 children were involved in the programme launched in August to see the state finance diagnostics and treatment courses, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, operative intervention and proton therapy. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
The Ministry said the additions meant the patients could now receive treatment at six clinics, including “high-tech, multidisciplinary” medical centres in Israel and Spain, and noted it was “actively working” with other leading European medical institutions for the purpose.
In her comments, Tamar Gabunia, the First Deputy Minister, said the programme’s expansion would create more opportunities to “fully address” children's needs and have “good results” in selecting the clinics with geographic accessibility.
The body said more than 50 children were involved in the programme launched in August to see the state finance diagnostics and treatment courses, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, operative intervention and proton therapy.
It added the programme was a “transitional stage” until the opening of the Children's Oncology Centre in Georgia, announced by Minister Zurab Azarashvili in December 2022, which is expected to offer a “full range” of medical services with “modern standards and high-tech equipment”.
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 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.
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 Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili on Friday said the existence of alternative institutions providing essential services for children with oncological diseases was “of vital importance”, adding that working in this direction has already started.