"Uncontrolled prices for medicines consume pensions, social benefits, and often salaries," Dimitri Khundadze, chairman of the Health and Social Affairs Committee, said at a meeting of the Georgian Dream in parliament, where the prime ministerial candidate was heard.
"50% of healthcare still comes from out-of-pocket expenses, of which 70% is the cost of medicines. Such uncontrollable and rising prices consume pensions, social benefits, and often even salaries. This is especially hard for socially vulnerable groups. The quality of medicines is a problem. Geographical or physical access is more or less solved, but financial access is critically important, and we may give it a more rigorous assessment. To solve this problem, it is necessary to reform this sector. It is necessary to create a legal framework. We have worked on this with European experts, but it is not enough. We need to change the logistics. It will not be enough either; we need the main thing - it is a strong political will, "- said Dimitri Khundadze.
He said that there was a promise from the health ministerial candidate that he would have a principled approach to the issue.
"She (Ekaterine Tikaradze) expressed political will, but I think it should be emphasized even more. I would like to ask you to inform us of your position in this regard and express readiness to put this political will together. This will be a condition that we will achieve results, and this sector in the country will not be the heaviest burden for every citizen, "- Kundadze addressed Giorgi Gakharia.
"The price of medicines in the country should be reduced. The main task is that this should not affect the quality and effectiveness of treatment; the first step in this direction will be taken in the near future," Gakharia said.
