Health minister reviews rare disease treatment capabilities at Iashvili hospital

Georgia’s Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze visited M. Iashvili Central Children’s Hospital to assess the clinic’s readiness to join a new component of the state programme for the treatment of rare diseases.

The visit focused on outpatient, inpatient and diagnostic services for patients with spinal muscular atrophy, as well as Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.

Sarjveladze toured the hospital’s outpatient and diagnostic departments and reviewed the clinic’s technical equipment. Together with medical staff, the minister discussed the hospital’s capacity to provide care for patients with neuromuscular disorders, alongside the needs of beneficiaries and the effective management of the programme’s new component.

According to the minister, monitoring the progression of spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy is one of the key elements of treatment. He said the expanded programme will allow beneficiaries to access a broader range of services, helping improve the management of their conditions.

Under the new component of the state programme, beneficiaries will have access to consultations with neurologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, nutrition specialists and orthopaedists.

The programme will also provide a range of laboratory and instrumental examinations, including electrocardiography, echocardiography, 24-hour Holter monitoring, spirometry, densitometry, vitamin D testing, chest and spinal radiography, blood and urine analysis, creatine kinase testing, kidney and liver function tests, electrolyte screening and faecal occult blood testing.