The diagnosis-related group (DRG) strategy is mandated in hospitals from January 1, 2023. According to the Georgian Health Ministry, the new approach bans clinics from charging additional out-of-pocket expenses for medical services other than those specified. The reasonable cost of various services will be computed automatically.
The new method aims to make medical services accessible and improve the health system’s efficiency. The co-financing share by the state from 0 to 30% will be envisaged as per the health insurance packages.
Accoridng to the doctors, the new tariff system created problems, especially during high-tech operational interventions. Orthopedic-traumatologists say that the rate determined by the DRG does not ensure the use of quality medical technologies, that's why some of them temporarily refused to perform surgery.
Akaki Zoidze advises healthcare managers to use a different approach. According to him, it can be "DRG +", thus the state can reduce the cost of expensive medical technologies.
"DRG +" can compensate all other components. We are urging the healthcare sector to hold a tender, as they have done in the case of pacemakers. They bought them by tender and gave them to the clinics at a fixed price depending on the consumption. We are talking about the same option as for expensive prostheses, crystal, other disposable medical technological items, so that there is no problem of inflation and exchange rate. Then the clinics that participate in the universal healthcare program will go and get these materials from the company that won the tender as needed. With this, you can save at least 200 million, which can be used to reform primary health care, which is what we lack the most," said Akaki Zoidze.
