Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kaladze unveils health, social welfare plans as election bid begins

Tbilisi’s incumbent mayor and mayoral candidate from the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party, Kakha Kaladze, has presented a new package of healthcare and social policy initiatives to be implemented over the next four years if re-elected.

The presentation in the Georgian capital on Tuesday was attended by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, along with government ministers, MPs, city assembly and sector experts.

Kaladze said health and social welfare had been and would remain the city government’s top priority, stressing that around ₾106 million has been allocated this year alone for 31 ongoing healthcare and social support programmes, benefiting some 300,000 residents annually.

“This is the area where we carry the greatest responsibility - people’s health, their lives, and their future. We will continue to support citizens in need, regardless of their political views,” Kaladze said, thanking his deputies and municipal staff for their work.

Kaladze further announced plans to launch three new programmes in the next four years:

funding for early-stage cancer diagnostic tests

funding for lung cancer screening

funding for radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer.

Deputy Mayor Andria Basilaia said the city would also continue social support schemes for children, teenagers and students from vulnerable families, including subsidised access to municipal educational and sports facilities and tuition support for up to 20,000 students from low-income, large, or disabled families.

Basilaia noted that district administrations will continue delivering local welfare schemes, including emergency rent support, one-off financial aid in crises, free meal programmes, and seasonal assistance such as food packages and firewood for vulnerable households.

Kaladze concluded by thanking the prime minister, parliament and Tbilisi City Assembly for their support, saying the ruling party was working as “one team, one big family serving Georgia and its people.”