Health systems in action: Georgia: 2022 edition

Overview

Since 2013, Georgia has been striving to provide universal health coverage through a package of publicly funded benefits and increased public investment in health. Although public spending on health remains low by international comparison (at 2.7% of GDP in 2019), it has increased as coverage has expanded and out-of-pocket spending on health has fallen considerably. However, coverage policy is extremely complex and there are substantial co-payments. The high cost of outpatient medicines is the biggest barrier to accessing care for the lowest income households. Richer households spend more out of pocket on inpatient care costs.

A policy focus has been on strengthening primary care by efforts to integrate and improve key vertical programmes (such as early childhood development, hypertension and mental health); increase digital health services; invest in the workforce; and harmonize rural and urban primary care programmes.

Noncommunicable diseases account for most of the country’s burden of morbidity and mortality. The overall mortality rate in Georgia is high, with stroke the leading cause of death. The smoking rate among male Georgians was among the highest in Europe in 2020, whereas the female smoking rate was among the lowest. Excess mortality due to COVID-19 far exceeded the WHO European Region average. Tackling antimicrobial resistance is a political priority, with both monitoring and regulation improving since 2017.