Georgian Government Halts Republican Hospital Reorganization Process After Meeting with Doctors
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, February 26, 2024
At a briefing on the developments at the Republican Hospital, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the Georgian government has decided to halt the reorganization process of the hospital. Kobakhidze met with the doctors alongside the Minister of Health, Zurab Azarashvili.
According to the Prime Minister, in the coming months, the government and the Ministry of Health will work on an alternative project related to the Republican Hospital.
"An alternative option was proposed by the doctors, which meant that a hospital could be built in the back area, and the front area could be used for future investment purposes. This proposal corresponds to the plan from, if I'm not mistaken, 2007.
At that time, Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili had planned the construction of a new building. However, due to political reasons and considering the ongoing processes, unfortunately, this project could no longer be implemented. It was planned to construct the new hospital in the back area.
We will proceed with the same project. Once again, design work will be conducted, and the relevant process will be planned. Proposals will be prepared in this direction to ensure the construction of a hospital in the rear area. Additionally, the previous area will be utilized for investment purposes, aligning perfectly with the proposal put forward by the doctors of the Republican Hospital.
Accordingly, we have decided to halt the ongoing process, which involved doctors and staff drafting statements for reorganization. We will prepare proposals in the coming months, and thereafter determine the course of action for the process," Kobakhidze stated.
The decision was announced the next day after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the leader of the parliamentary majority, Mamuka Mdinaradze, met with the medical staff of the Republican Hospital. According to the press service of the government, the situation related to the clinic was discussed in detail at the meeting.
"The head of the government heard information, arguments, and opinions from the doctors about possible ways to solve the problem. It was emphasized that making a reasonable decision is important to ensure that the process is not disrupted and that the interests of both the public and the medical personnel are taken into account," read the government press release.
