Health Minister: Proper Management is a Prerequisite for Victory in the Fight against Coronavirus

INTERVIEW

We have an exclusive interview with the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Ekaterine Tikaradze.

To what extent was the Georgian healthcare system ready to fight COVID-19, and what challenges did you face at first?

In December 2019, the first reports of a new virus, COVID-19, began to spread around the world, rapidly advancing in China. Although geographically Georgia was far from the epicenter of this disease, we were well aware that only time separated us from the moment when that invisible enemy would arrive and spread in Georgia as well.

In early January 2020, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia took concrete steps to stop and manage the possible epidemic.

The planning of a fundamental reform of the healthcare system began in the summer of 2019, and medical facilities were gradually being studied by the State Agency for Regulation of Medical Activities. This resulted in a complete audit of the system. Thus, we were able to manage the processes in a more timely manner, and consistently. The advent of the new virus COVID-19 further intensified, tightened and made the study process even more targeted. Since we have been dealing with infectious diseases, we had already started a detailed study of these specific areas in medical institutions, and therefore, when the first case was confirmed in Georgia, we already knew the problems in the system, the methods of solution-finding, and opportunities for both infrastructure and human resources.

The main challenge for the country is its small number of field specialists, infection specialists and intensivists. One of the most important resources for us, without which even the presence of the best-equipped hospitals is impossible, is competent middle and low-rung medical personnel who have adequate knowledge and experience to fight the epidemic.

Given the prevalence of the disease, at present, the number of beds and respirators in the country is sufficient. There was a shift to a unified system of managing medical facilities and, according to the requirements, specific hospitals were converted into and equipped as infectious disease hospitals, which was successfully implemented in Zugdidi in the Rukhi Clinic. I have personally visited the medical institutions in different regions of Georgia several times to get acquainted with the situation on the ground.

You talked about the readiness of the health system. What other steps were important and necessary during that period?

We took the first steps in the fight against COVID-19 on January 24 with the launch of an information campaign at airports and land borders. We placed information banners for travelers reflecting the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization on the new coronavirus. Passengers were also provided with information flyers about the recommendations. On January 25, doctor clinicians at the border began conducting thermal screening of passengers. In addition, passengers coming from high-risk countries were taken directly to quarantine zones for observation.

Also, on January 25, the scheduled flight from China to Tbilisi was canceled and flights from Georgia to this destination were suspended.

In this process, the support of our strategic partner states is very important. Meetings with ambassadors of various countries and representatives of international organizations were regularly held at the Ministry of Health. I have been in constant coordination with colleagues from Germany as well as other countries to share our views on new guidelines and algorithms. I have also been in direct talks with the Austrian side, after which the Georgian population got access to a special application, STOP COVID, which is one of the most effective methods of combating the virus. Similar applications have been actively used to control the epidemic in Japan, South Korea and other countries. The results and success achieved in these states are already visible.

A special platform was set up to fight COVID-19, within which the #StopCoV Foundation was established, where every company, as well as citizen, can contribute to the fight against the virus. The Cartu Foundation has already transferred 100 million GEL to the fund.

I would also like to note that a Georgian company has started producing medical face masks. In order to supply the country's healthcare system, the first 4 million medical face masks of local production were purchased by the Cartu Foundation and donated to the state completely free of charge.

What do you think could be the main tool in the fight against the pandemic?

The Coordination Council of the Government of Georgia, headed by the Prime Minister, is working on a daily basis on methods of combating COVID-19. Proposals and complete information developed by the Ministry of Health on the management of the situation in the country are provided to the Council on a daily basis.

I would like to clarify that in this situation, the effectiveness of the fight against pandemics is assessed by several criteria. These include the rate of infection, recovered cases, and death cases. However, the most important thing is to evaluate the dynamics of the process and the rate of virus reproduction in real time - Rt, that is, to put it simply, at a given time, on average, the number of people who will catch the disease from a single infected person. This indicator is of paramount importance when determining the basics of pandemic suppression and neutralization strategy.

The Main Question From Society: does this indicator determine when the restrictions will be removed and when will we return to normal life?

The answer to these questions depends on the civic responsibility of each individual. This is what determines Rt and other indicators that interest the public, and each of us.

We all know very well that the most effective way to fight the virus today is non-pharmaceutical measures, which means social distancing, adherence to standard hygiene rules that are directly related to the Rt rate. Only this way can we manage the processes in dynamics and not break the critical threshold that our healthcare system has today. To get back to your question, yes, a lot depends on that indicator. If the Rt level is 1, of course, the restrictions will be removed step by step, but if this rate increases, we will have to tighten the measures immediately.

Today, as a result of the above-mentioned actions of the Ministry of Health, the selfless work of our doctors, representatives of law enforcement agencies and military personnel, we are able to effectively deal with this pandemic.

I believe that full compliance with infectious norms, taking into account the existing international guidelines of the World Health Organization, sharing the research conducted in different international scientific centers, proper use of all tools by strict and timely management is a guarantee of victory in this difficult battle.

Again, it’s time for joint precise steps. Our strength today is in unity - to defeat the invisible enemy, COVID-19.