Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze says the DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) hospital financing model is designed to be continuously updated and aligned with real-world conditions, stressing that changes in tariffs are not an end in themselves.
Responding to a question from BMG on whether the government is considering revising DRG tariffs, Sarjveladze said adjustments - whether increases or decreases - are not a self-serving goal. The priority, he noted, is ensuring that state reimbursement accurately reflects the cost of healthcare services.
“It is important to understand that the DRG model implies that financing tariffs must remain relevant and continuously adjusted to existing services,” Sarjveladze said.
He added that it is natural for private hospitals to seek higher funding, but government decisions must remain balanced. “It is completely understandable that private clinics have an ongoing interest in higher funding. This is logical, but a balanced approach is essential. Every complaint must be examined in depth, and decisions should be made case by case in a reasonable and professional manner,” he said.
The DRG system, introduced in November 2022, finances hospitals based on standardized criteria such as diagnosis, patient age, and length of hospitalization, rather than actual treatment costs, with the goal of improving efficiency and transparency in healthcare spending.
