After the education reform, the Georgian Dream team is now focusing on another area—healthcare. Irakli Kobakhidze publicly announced plans for a deep overhaul of the healthcare system in the country, which will entail not just incremental but fundamental changes. According to his assessment, the existing system continues to develop, but there are still significant quality shortcomings, making foreign treatment options more attractive for some citizens. Against this backdrop, the ruling team aims to establish a long-term vision that will bring the healthcare sector closer to international standards and become part of the country’s development plan until 2036.
“We have a problem in the healthcare sector where, due to unsatisfactory quality in several areas, many of our fellow citizens go abroad for treatment, if they have the means. I believe that with a systematic approach, it is possible, in the medium term, to provide a level of medical services in Georgia that is comparable to what is currently available in Turkey, Germany, Israel, or Austria,”
In Kobakhidze’s statement, the issue of financial accessibility is discussed, as well as the quality of medical services. Emphasis should be placed on the reality that some citizens are forced to leave the country for treatment, which should be considered a direct indicator of systemic weakness. This assessment indirectly shows that healthcare reform should address not only infrastructure or funding but also professional standards, management, and service outcomes.
Kobakhidze simultaneously expresses readiness for broad discussion while questioning the competence of political opponents. In this way, he seems to limit the circle of subjects who would have legitimate influence on the content of the reform. Against the backdrop of skepticism towards political forces, the Prime Minister states that priority will be given to professional authority and expert knowledge, especially when it comes to the healthcare system.
The focus should be on doctors and specialists in the field; Kobakhidze presents healthcare as an area where politicians’ assessments should be secondary, and the basis for decisions should be practical experience and professional qualifications. This can be interpreted as an attempt to steer the discussion around the reform away from political polemics.
“We want to establish such a strategic plan in all areas that not only allows us to achieve incremental results but also enables us to achieve transformative changes. This plan will be prepared in the very near future, and we will have a very specific vision established in all directions. If anyone wishes and is able to contribute constructively to this process, we are ready for that as well. I am not only referring to political opponents, where competence is very limited; practically, there are hardly any competent parties left in our political space, composed of competent individuals. However, we need to look more broadly at the topic of these discussions, and the involvement of genuine specialists in the field is important here. When it comes to healthcare, the opinions of qualified and experienced doctors regarding the healthcare system are more significant and interesting than those of politicians. We are ready for discussions with representatives from all sectors, including in an oppositional mode.”
According to the ruling team, under the current conditions, the sector is moving slowly or not at all and is “stuck in one place.” Consequently, an 11-year plan is announced within the framework of this reform, which aims to address all current problems and challenges in the healthcare sector.
