According to the Georgian policy towards the occupied territories of Georgia, the state is obliged to develop peace initiatives and formats vis-à-vis the occupied territories, carry out and participate in the peace processes. This policy also involves funding treatment of patients living in the occupied territories (tempoary occupied Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and Former South Ossetia A/R) from the state budget. More precisely, the state budget finances the medical services for non-Georgian citizens (Abkhazian and Ossetian patients) living in the occupied territories, which is implemented within the "State Program for Referral Service".
Due to the importance of the issue, IDFI requested public information from the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs regarding statistical data of 2014-2017, on patients living in the occupied territories, receiving stationary services provided by the medical institutions of Georgia. The ministry has fully provided requested information.
Key findings
- In 2014-2017,16,935,074.81 GEL was spent from state budget on the medical expenses of Abkhazian and Ossetian patients. 6,188 patients received medical services.
- In 2014-2017, more Abkazians (3,595) were using state-funded medical treatment than Ossetians (2,650).
- In 2014-2016, the number of patients receiving state-funded medical treatment financed by the state budget increased 2.4 times and the budgetary allocations almost doubled.
- In 2014-2016 the number of patients using state-funded medical transportation increased by 50% and the the budgetary allocations almost doubled.
- In 2014-2017 the number of Abkhazian patients (3,595) receiving medical treatment financed by the state budget was higher than the number of Ossetian patients (2,650). Therefore, medical expenses on Abkhazian patients were higher (9,759,689 GEL on Abkhazian patients and 8,098,078 GEL on Ossetian patients).
- Patients living in the occupied territories most often refer to Georgian medical institutions in case of oncological, onhematological diseases or for requesting medicines.
The analysis was prepared in frames of the project "Empower Society for Strengthening Good Governance", financially supported by International Visegrad Fund and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The responsibility of the content of the article lies with the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI). It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of International Visegrad Fund and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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