Budget for mental health rises, challenges remain

The budget for mental health programs has increased. As a result, many services have become free for Georgian citizens.

For the first time, community centers have been established in Tbilisi and the regions, where mental health services will be free of charge. The state will cover not only diagnosis but treatment and medication prescribed by a psychiatrist.

Funding will cover organic mental disorders, including symptomatic disorders, schizophrenia, acute stress, and adaptation disorders, psychotic disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, etc.

The program will finance the children’s mental health, including mental disorders caused by brain injury and dysfunction or other physical diseases.

In addition, in this year’s budget, the number of mobile community teams has increased. The group, consisting of three people, can go to the patients and provide on-site services. The number of such groups in 2017 was only three, in 2018 it increased to 11, and by the end of this year, the number of mobile teams is planned to be increased to 31.

Eka Adamia, head of the Public Health and Programs Department of the Ministry of Labor, Health And Social Affairs, in a talk with the Tabula magazine, emphasized that every citizen of Georgia can benefit from the mental health program despite their insurance status - the state will fund everyone, including those with private insurances.

“We are moving towards the strategic goal. The key is to strengthen community services and equalize community and outpatient funding,” said Adamia.

She also spoke about other plans that the ministry has regarding mental health. According to Adamia, housing conditions of the beneficiaries with long-term care needs will be improved next year.

She also noted that the budget increase for the Mental Health Program started in 2018, when GEL 5 million was added, and in 2019 another 3.5 million.

Citizens of Georgia will be able to receive state-funded services both in Tbilisi and in the regions. Information on the relevant facility is available on the hotline of the Ministry of Health (1505).

Earlier this year, at the meeting dedicated to identifying and overviewing existing problems in the Georgian healthcare system, the Deputy Minister of Health, Tamar Gabunia stated that the mental health is a priority for the ministry.

“It is essential to support the timely development of community services, as well as to maximize outpatient services for patients. It is also important to raise acceptance within society and develop a generally positive attitude and support for people with mental disorders to ensure their integration into society. The use of the existing hospital infrastructure should be minimized and only used when necessary. Also the most important is that the service quality should be optimal and as close as possible to the international standards,” said Gabunia.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition, mental health is essential for the general health and well-being - “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease.” Therefore, for the overall welfare of society, good policies are needed in this regard.

A study in India found that more than 40% of corporate employees suffer from depression and anxiety. It’s a common illness, yet talking about it is still a taboo. And it costs the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year.

Mental health problems affect the economy as well. Depression and anxiety are some of the most common mental illnesses; however, talking about it is still a taboo. Especially affected are the economically active part of the population. A recent WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year in lost productivity.

Health care system in Georgia appears to be one of the important priorities of the state during the last decade and varies within 9-11%. About health care costs, the mental health sector, share its funds within 2%.

Public Health allocations on mental health in Georgia have a tendency to increase in the last decade; however the share of mental health expenditures hasn’t seen much growth and remains within 2% of the overall healthcare funding. According to the Curatio International Foundation study, the annual funding is much lower than the same indicator of the countries with similar economic development.

Georgia spends approximately 100 times less on mental healthcare than developed countries and 12 times less than Eastern European countries. Therefore, choosing where the funds get allocated is crucial to ensure the well-being of the citizens who often have to endure mental illnesses without help.