Health ministry moves to tighten control over psychotropic drug prescriptions

Georgia’s Health Ministry on Friday said it will strengthen oversight of psychotropic medication prescriptions after identifying serious shortcomings in current practices.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Professional Development Council chaired by the Minister for Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Mikheil Sarjveladze.

According to the ministry’s press service, a review of how psychotropic medicines are prescribed and dispensed revealed significant risks and systemic failures. Council members said doctors had issued prescriptions without proper justification, diagnosis or patient consultation.

In some cases, prescriptions were written by doctors who did not have the appropriate authorisation. The review also found instances where psychotropic medicines were prescribed at doses two or three times higher than recommended daily limits.

Members of the council said eliminating improper prescription practices would require not only state regulation but also greater responsibility and professional accountability from doctors.

Sarjveladze said the findings of the review went beyond legal norms and would lead to an appropriate response. He said amendments to relevant regulatory acts were being prepared to minimise the risks of improper medication dispensing and to ensure maximum patient safety.

Specific cases identified during the review will be forwarded to investigative bodies for further examination. The council said it would continue discussions on doctors’ professional responsibility.

The Professional Development Council includes representatives from the Health Ministry and its subordinate agencies, medical institutions, sectoral associations, as well as members of parliament’s Health Care and Social Issues Committee. Council decisions are adopted by a majority vote.