Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Took into Account Recommendation of the Public Defender of Georgia

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Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia took into account recommendation of the Public Defender of Georgia concerning availability of infusion for patients suffering from hemophilia and notified the Public Defender that Ministry will adopt a regulation concerning this type of cases in medical institutions.    

  

It is noteworthy that, the Minister of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and other employees of the Ministry always carefully consider recommendations, statements and motions of Public Defender. Public Defender values this type of attitude and expresses hope that in future this result oriented cooperation will enhance, which will positively affect the realization of right to health of citizens of Georgia.  

  

Public Defender was addressed by citizen M. P. who has 4 children suffering from hemophilia. One of the children requires transfusion of a special medication, but Sachkhere hospital cannot provide this procedure. Moreover, according to the applicant, even if the patient provides the necessary medication the hospital refuses to perform the transfusion based on instruction of Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs.   

It is important to mention that the applicant belongs to population below the poverty line and cannot afford to transport the child to the capital every time transfusion is required. 

According to Georgian Association of Hemophilia, 313 patients are registered with hereditary bleeding disorders in Hemophilia Center on the bases of December 2012 data. 

  

Patients, residing in remote cities and villages, far away from the Hemophilia Center address the local emergency wards and clinics when infusion is required during bleeding. However, they state that the medical personnel often refuse to perform the infusion. As a result the patient is left without necessary medical care and is forced to seek a person outside the medical institution, who will agree to perform the procedure in return for relevant remuneration.   

  

In order to resolve this problem the Public Defender of Georgia addressed Davit Sergeenko, Minister of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia with a recommendation to take according measures to ensure availability of infusion of clotting factor concentrates to patients suffering from bleeding disorders on the whole territory of the country.