Tbilisi City Hall is implementing, amongst several other programmes, a Joint Replacement Programme, for which GEL 2,000,000 has been allocated in this year’s budget.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated at today’s government session that the programme aims to ensure access to surgical treatment for citizens in need of knee and hip joint replacement.

“Funding this service was an electoral pledge. Accordingly, we are continuing to run the Joint Replacement Programme this year, and it is duly provided for in the budget. We want to help those citizens who are affected by this condition to resolve it, with our financial support,” said Kakha Kaladze.

He further noted that Tbilisi City Hall will issue a guarantee letter to cover the cost of the service, with funding of up to GEL 6,000, while the patient’s co-payment will be based on the actual expenses incurred.

Additionally, according to Kaladze, the City Hall imposes no restrictions on citizens, granting them the freedom to choose both their medical institution and the type of prosthesis.

“The programme of the City Service for Healthcare and Social Services is available to Georgian citizens who have been continuously registered in the municipality of Tbilisi for the past two years at the time of enrolment, and who are not receiving funding for this service under the state universal healthcare programme,” said Kakha Kaladze.

Tbilisi Mayor also explained that the citizen or their legal representative must apply to a medical institution to receive the service, which will upload the necessary documentation to a dedicated electronic module. Should the citizen hold private insurance, they or their representative must submit the relevant certificate from their private insurance to the City Hall.

“What matters most to us is the person, their health, their freedom of movement, and their dignity of life. When you restore someone’s ability to move, you are, in the truest sense, restoring their quality of life and supporting them in every way, because this condition physically prevents movement. We will help and support everyone who needs it,” said Kakha Kaladze.