PM: We'll Do Everything To Protect Health of Citizens Living on Both Sides of Occupation Line
After the Zugdidi Infectious Diseases Hospital, the Rukhi multi-specialty clinic has also joined the fight against the coronavirus. Today, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia observed the process of equipping the medical facility together with Ekaterine Tikaradze, minister of internally displaced persons from the occupied territories, labor, health and social affairs of Georgia, and Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, state minister for reconciliation and civic equality.
The clinic, which will be able to serve 100 patients at a time, has been given 10 medical ventilators, which are crucial for the treatment of severe cases of the coronavirus. According to the minister of healthcare, the process of equipping the hospital with necessary equipment and hospital beds will be concluded within several days.
"This is a multi-specialty hospital with very serious capabilities. It had not been launched until today, and as we are facing serious challenges today – see how quickly a hospital can be put into operation. The clinic will be able to serve our citizens who may have been infected with the coronavirus in the coming days. Quarantine zones will also be set up in the region. Our priority is to put all of this into operation as soon as possible. I'm calling on every medic and doctor in the region – we must declare full mobilization. We are talking not only about western Georgia but about mobilization throughout the entire country. We all understand that the operation of this hospital has another, very serious function as well. You are aware that a large number of people are coming here from beyond the occupation line and of course, we will help every citizen on both sides of the occupation line. Normal operation will be maintained here. Any person who crosses the occupation line and requires medical attention will receive medical assistance. Those who require a quarantine zone will get a quarantine zone. We will do everything to protect the health of our citizens on both sides of the occupation line. This is critically important and it is the main function of launching this powerful medical center, this is its mission," the prime minister stated.
A 100-room dormitory has been set up on the territory of the Rukhi hospital, intended for the family members of the patients undergoing treatment there. Parking lots and internal roads have already been set up at the location.
In the future, the clinic will also be able to fulfill the function of a teaching hospital. There are also spaces for lecture halls, a library, and sports facilities at the location. The Rukhi multi-specialty medical clinic project received 41 million GEL in funding from the state budget. Construction works were carried out by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
Clinics are actively being prepared throughout all of Georgia, on the prime minister's instruction and through the efforts of the Ministry of Healthcare, in order to reduce the damage caused by the coronavirus and to protect the health of citizens.