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“Doctors protest in front of the Ministry of Economic Development”

Akhali Taoba reports that about 300 hospital workers gathered in front of the Economic Development Ministry on April 4 to protest what they say is a sell-off of hospitals to pharmaceutical companies.

Economic Development Minister Eka Sharashidze and Minister of Health, Labor and Social Affairs Sandro Kvitashvili met with the protestors.

The demonstration was organized by the Georgian Professionals’ Union.

The doctors and workers demanded more transparent medical reforms, and an end to the privatization of hospitals.



“Anti-drug campaign in Kakheti”

The local government of eastern Kakheti province is supporting youth organizations in organizing a regional anti-drug campaign, Sakartvelos Respublika reports.

According to the Kakheti-base NGO Human Rights Center, the campaign, “Choose Life Over Drugs,” will last a month.

Seminars and sports competitions will be held in public schools.

The campaign was put together after the NGO reported that young people in Kakheti are increasingly using drugs.



“Accused of betrayal”

Koba Davitashvili, leader of the oppositional People’s Party, is accusing his former press secretary and several former party members of acting against the party’s interests, Rezonansi writes.

According to Davitashvili, that was why he fired the press secretary, prompting a few other erstwhile supporters to leave.

“This was their choice, and I did not have the right to force them to stay. I want to add that only three people expressed solidarity with [the ex-press secretary] and left the party,” Davitashvili said.



“Giorgi and Mariam becoming most popular first names in Georgia”

Sakartvelos Respublika reports that Giorgi and Mariam were the two most popular names for children born in the first three months of this year.

According to the Civil Registry Agency, the most popular boys’ names were Giorgi, Luka and Nikoloz. The most popular names for baby girls were Mariam, Nino and Ana. In the 1990s, the agency says, the most popular names were Giorgi, Davit and Irakli for boys, and Nino, Tamara and Mariam for girls.

There were 3 163 boys born in the first quarter of the year, and 2 960 girls.