The Ministry of Health has started working on a new calculation of clinic tariffs. This process was preceded by an appeal of the healthcare sector to former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Minister of Health Ekaterine Tikaradze in January.
The sector notes, that their situation got hard due to GEL depreciation because they had to buy consumables and equipment in USD and EUR. In addition, the clinics have to pay increased utility bills amid pandemics.
“Global economic crisis, as well as the pandemic put the healthcare sector in a difficult situation because our expenditures have tripled. Price of consumables and medical equipment is 300-500% up. Consequently, we must find a way out to save this sector. Because we work with business laws, we depend on suppliers, who are dependent on external factors. Consequently, the situation is quite difficult and it became necessary to put the issue of tariff review on the agenda.
We know that no one gives us anything, the state does not have the resource to take on the business risk. We think the tariffs review will allow the clinics to continue their activities”, said Maia Makharashvili, director of the Khechinashvili Clinic.
Maia Khomeriki, Operations Director of GeoHospitals declares, that prices have not been reviewed for hospitals engaged in the universal health care program since the day of its launch.
“Since 2013, prices have not been reviewed for those clinics. As you know, due to the exchange rate of USD, prices are grown for both medicines and consumables. Amid pandemic, consumption of personal protective equipment has increased, hence it has led to a revision of prices.
It is also noteworthy that the clinics participating in the program since the first day of the program launch found themselves in an unequal competitive environment with respect to those clinics engaged in the program later. We have high hopes that the new tariffs will enable us to provide quality service to the patients," said Maia Khomeriki.
Giorgi Ambroliani, General Director of Medalpha told BM.GE, that there is no talk of a 100-200-300% tariff increase. He notes that the growth will be in the range of 30-40%.
“For example, if one service costs 480-500 GEL at the ICU, according to the new calculation, this tariff will be 700-750 GEL. The Healthcare sector is the sole sector that operates with tariffs set about 10 years ago. The tariff that was 10 years ago can no longer cover direct and indirect expenditures,” said Ambroliani.
As the Ministry of Health told BM.GE, the study of the documentation submitted by the clinics is not completed and the Ministry of Health has not adopted any decision yet.
