According to the Ministry of Health, children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy will be granted the status of persons with disabilities immediately upon diagnosis.

The agency reports that this decision was made by the Ministry of Health as a result of active communication with parents of children with this syndrome, experts, and doctors.

“Accordingly, children in need of state support will be provided with services and benefits intended for persons with disability status, which will improve the quality of independent living and promote their social integration. This, in turn, will increase the child’s ability to minimize the rate of disease progression.

80 children with disabilities will be provided with a monetary allowance – a social package. The monthly amount determined by the social package for one child with disabilities is GEL 425.

This decision will come into force from March 1.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare, genetically determined disease characterized by progressive muscle damage,” the information reads.