EFSUMB welcomes Georgia as its newest society

Population: 3.719 million (2016)
Area: 69,700 km²
Capital: Tbilisi
EFSUMB members: 20

Dr. Elene Gotsiridze – EFSUMB delegate

Professional background 
Dr. Elene Gotsiridze graduated from Tbilisi State Medical University in 2008. Completed residency in radiology in 2010 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The same year graduated from the Geojeff – Jefferson Ultrasound Radiology Education Institute (JUREI) (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) affiliated center in Tbilisi, Georgia. Underwent training in Radiology (CT,MRI, ultrasound) at the Corintains Diagnostics radiology centre in New York in 2010. Started pediatric ultrasound investigations from 2015 following fellowship program at Department of Pediatric radiology of the Cologne University Clinic in Germany. Since 2011 Elene has been working as a radiologist/ultrasound specialist at various institution in Tbilisi, Georgia. Currently works at the European Limbach diagnostic group – “Mrcheveli” and “Jo Ann” medical centre in Tbilisi, Georgia.

In 2016 the Georgian Association of Ultrasound was founded. The Association has twenty members: ultrasound specialists, radiologists, hepatologists, gastroenterologists, and pediatricians.

Its goal is:

• bringing together young specialists for development of this direction

• enhancing communication with local and international colleagues

• sharing knowledge and information

• implementing new diagnostic methods

• educational and scientific activities ensuring continuous professional development

• translating International guidelines into Georgia and implementing in everyday practice

• involving regions and provinces in all activities

Training in ultrasound 
In order to receive a license as a radiologist/ultrasound specialist in Georgia, one has to undergo three year residency in general radiology – continuous professional medical education; the course contains education on x-ray and ultrasound.

Short-term training courses are organized by the Geojeff – Jefferson Ultrasound Radiology Education Institute (JUREI) (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) affiliated center in Tbilisi, Georgia, every three months for both local and international students.

Radiology and Ultrasound examinations in Georgia 
Medicine and all its subspecialties in Georgia are rapidly developing, as in all ex-Soviet countries. Radiology used to be a unity of different subspecialties. Today, ultrasound is part of general radiology and it is mostly performed by radiologists with some exceptions: neurosonoscopy, cardiovascular examinations – conducted by physicians and radiologists.

The Georgian association of radiology was founded in 1997 by Professor Pridon Todua. Nearly 120 radiologists are united in this association. There is also the Association of cardiovascular and interventional radiology founded by Dr. Malkhaz Mizandari in 2009.

Ultrasound examinations are available throughout country at nearly all medical clinics and diagnostic centres. The population of Georgia has easy access to it through both medical insurance programs and/or personal visits.

Access to medical care in Georgia 
The Georgian Government provides financial coverage through the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, which includes state and social service agency; however, patients have to share expenses for some services through co-payment. The State finances healthcare but delivery of medical care is reliant on private medical facilities.

The insurance sector is one of the mostly developed sectors of Georgia. A number of private insurance companies offer the population medical insurance schemes.

Citizens of Georgia who are insured by private companies are able to access medical care at any private medical institutions; the part of population which does not have private insurance relies on state partial coverage.

Apart from this, there are certain projects of the Ministry of Health of Georgia under which certain criteria are set for providing total financial cover for medical care.