The average salary of nurses in Georgia has increased to 700 GEL following the introduction of a minimum wage regulation, according to Marina Sakhvadze, head of the Association for the Professional Development of Nurses. She told bm.ge that the measure, introduced in 2023, has had a positive effect on wages but has not resolved the nursing shortage in the country.
Since January 1, 2023, the minimum salary for nurses was set at 4.4 GEL per hour (792 GEL per month). From January 1, 2024, minimum thresholds were also introduced for other medical staff: junior doctors (960 GEL), nurse assistants (672 GEL), midwives (844 GEL), and sanitary staff (576 GEL). Despite these regulations, the shortage of nurses remains unchanged.
Sakhvadze noted that while salaries have improved and demand for nursing programs in vocational colleges has grown, the sector continues to suffer from a major challenge—the outflow of medical personnel abroad. According to her, many students enter the field with the intention of leaving for countries like Germany, where wages and working conditions are more attractive.
Geostat figures confirm the decline: Georgia had 22,000 nurses in 2022, 21,500 in 2023, and 21,300 in 2024, showing a steady drop. While interest in the profession is growing among new students, experts warn that without addressing migration, the shortage of nurses in the Georgian healthcare system will persist.
