Georgia expands state programme for rare diseases with new services for neuromuscular patients

Georgia’s state programme for the treatment of rare diseases is being expanded with a new component that will provide a broad range of services for patients with spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy, the Health Ministry said.

The Ministry said the new component will cover outpatient, inpatient and diagnostic services for eligible patients.

Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze, together with Deputy Minister Tea Giorgadze, on Wednesday met with the heads of clinics that may join the programme and provide the full range of services to beneficiaries. The parties discussed the importance of the new services and their effectiveness in improving patient care.

Sarjveladze said the Ministry considers it a priority to protect every patient’s right to healthcare and noted that monitoring the progression of neuromuscular diseases is a key part of treatment.

“With the launch of this new component, beneficiaries will have access to a wide range of essential services,” he said.

Under the programme, patients will receive consultations with neurologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists or nutritionists and orthopaedists. They will also have access to a variety of laboratory and diagnostic tests, including electrocardiograms, echocardiography, 24-hour Holter monitoring, spirometry, densitometry, vitamin D testing, X-rays, blood and urine analyses, kidney and liver function tests, electrolyte testing, glucose testing, and stool screening for occult blood.

The services will be fully funded by the state and provided free of charge to patients.

At the same time, work is ongoing to ensure that the new programme component will also cover adult beneficiaries, alongside children, for outpatient, inpatient and diagnostic services.