Deterioration of the population’s health in recent years is acknowledged as one of the biggest
recent problems in Georgia. Poverty, a meager state social safety net provided to an extremely
limited segment of the population, poor environmental conditions, improper diet and food
scarcity, exposure to high levels of stress, ineffective health policy, improper management of
health care facilities and the low accessibility of health care – all have contributed to this decline
in health.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union caused the disruption of the existing system of health care.
Health care reform was launched in 1995 to answer the need to establish a non-centralized
system of health care. In 1996, new laws established the foundation for launching health care
reform. The main focus of the reform was on the privatization of health care facilities and the
transition to coverage of the population by a state insurance system. The reform entailed
reorganization of medical education, creation of a licensing system and accreditation of courses,
and continuing medical education. It also sought to reduce the number of medical facilities and
to decrease the number of people employed in the health care sector.
Today, 32 medical universities/colleges (2 state and 30 private) grant degrees in medicine. Two
offer academic/semi-academic programs in public health/public health care and management.
Students at most of the medical schools have to pass 18 to 96 hours of courses in public health
care and management. Many training courses in health care management are delivered by
education and training bodies; however, public administration schools and/or programs offer
none of them. There also is no health policy program offered in Georgia.
Head doctors of all clinics are physicians by education (this is an unwritten rule), but starting last
year they are required to have a certificate in public health care, management and organization.
The certificate is obtained by passing an exam. The system of continuing education fully
launched in May 2003 seeks to ensure that medical staff personnel are upgrading their theoretical
knowledge and skills. Initial certification, and then re-certification every subsequent five years
by earning credits or passing exams, is now required for obtaining and retaining a license to
practice medicine.