Tbilisi Infectious Diseases Hospital Stops Receiving COVID-19, HIV/AIDS Patients

Tbilisi Infectious Diseases Hospital has suspended reception of patients infected with COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS for stationary treatment due to the lack of basic, necessary conditions, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, the Head of the Infectious Diseases and AIDS Center, announced on August 20.

"We confirm that the hospital was forced to suspend reception of patients infected with COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS for stationary treatment due to difficult operating conditions," he said.

Tsertsvadze criticized the statement made by Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze, saying that if the Center suspends the treatment program, it will be fined. 

Tikaradze explained that the Ministry of Health is aware of the difficult conditions the Hospital has been operating in, that's why the Ministry has made a decision to buy a new building worth GEL 40 million for them and repair it. 

"Rehabilitation works are to be launched on the spot soon in order to allow them to work under normal conditions. We will further study the reason why this statement was made by Tsertsvadze," the Minister noted.  

However, the head of the Infectious Diseases Hospital claims that the Center had to work in "extremely difficult, critical conditions" and, although after seven years of waiting, there is a government decision to provide them with the new building, it will take at least a year to repair it.

"During this time, it is crucial for the Hospital to have some basic, vital conditions for patient care on the ground," he emphasized.

He says the Health Ministry has sued the Infectious Diseases Hospital in a lawsuit that dates back to February, based on a report prepared by the Regulatory Agency of the Ministry of Health regarding the lack of a mandatory ventilation system in the hospital.

"It's funny, but the Ministry sued us in court for the shortcomings that we asked them to correct before and after,” Tsertsvadze said.

Tsertsvadze further states that he is ready to meet with the Minister in any format and discuss this issue with her.

By Ana Dumbadze  

Image: Tengiz Tsertsvadze