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Category: NEWS

  • Introductory Meeting on the project 'Embedding Rapid Reviews in Health Policy-Making'

    On November 5, the Committee on Health and Social Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia will host an introductory meeting on the project Embedding Rapid Reviews in Health Policy-Making.

    The project is jointly implemented by the “Curatio International Foundation” and the Committee on Health and Social Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia. The project aims at building capacities of evidence-based decision-making in the field of healthcare policy development.

    The project provides for developing rapid reviews and policy briefs on topical health policy issues. A rapid review is an accelerated version of a systematic review regarded as a golden standard in generating an evidence base. It is grounded on the systematic review methodology, though is less time-consuming, which is an important factor for policy decision-making. The project is funded by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR).

    The meeting brought together members of the Committee on Health and Social Affairs and the research department of the Parliament of Georgia and representatives of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health.

  • Taavy Miller from University of North Carolina shares her internship experience

    [vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Taavy Miller was a CIF Intern during the 2018 Summer internship program. Within the program, Taavy was involved in the project that aims to study issues related to population access to medicine. Within her work, she was looking at facilitators and barriers to competition in the pharmaceutical sector affecting accessibility and affordability of medicines for the Georgian population.

    Taavi heard about CIF from Health Systems Global, after joining its social media group, to learn more about global health systems from other countries. Watch the short interview to learn more about her experiences.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu=”72″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

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  • Building Institutional Capacity for HPSR and Delivery Science- CIF is Europe region HUB

    General Overview

    The evidence-informed decision making in health still remains a major challenge. To strengthen institutional capacity in different countries around the globe the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) launched the new program to strengthen the capacity of local teaching/research and policy institutions in six low- and middle- income countries in each WHO region, to embed high-quality training in HPSR, target both researchers and decision makers. The Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center at American University of Beirut is lead mentor institution who will guide 6 mentee institutions around the world, Curatio International Foundation (CIF) acts as mentee institution for the European region.

    Purpose of the Program

    Strengthen the capacity of researchers and policymakers and their respective institutions to support evidence-informed decision-making in health.

     

    Expected outputs
    • Institutions that have the systems, processes and the right culture to support and facilitate evidence-informed decision-making in health in LMICs
    • Policymakers who recognize the role of evidence in informing different stages of the policymaking process and capacity to access, appraise and use evidence to inform decision-making in health
    • Researchers who understand the policymaking process and who have the skills and competencies to provide relevant, context-sensitive and timely HPSR and evidence to inform decision-making in health.

     

    Expected impact
    • A cadre of sustainable policymaking and research/knowledge institutions that champion the use of evidence in health policymaking, and that can serve as focal mentors to develop the capacity of other institutions within their respective countries and regions (i.e., ripple effect)
    • Strengthened evidence-informed decision-making in health in LMICs
    • Ultimately, by promoting the use of research, evidence, and data in policymaking and practice, the program will contribute to strengthening health systems, improving population health outcomes, reducing health care expenditures, and accelerating the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs)
    • Establish and nurture critical links and collaborations between and researchers and policymakers

     

    Donors and Partners

    Lead partner: Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center (American University of Beirut)
    Donor: WHO, the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR)

    Geographical Coverage

    Georgia and Europe Region (as defined by WHO).

     

    Project Timeline

    The project started in September 2018 and will run until May 2020.

  • Inter-regional workshop in preparation for transitioning towards domestic financing in TB, HIV and Malaria programmes

    During October 17-19 the WHO Regional Office for Europe in collaboration with WHO headquarters, GFATM and USAID organised a workshop in Tbilisi to provide countries a platform for dialogue on sustainability and transition issues, and to further define regional and national actions for successful transition from external support while maintaining and scaling up efforts in addressing HIV, TB and Malaria.  The workshop was organized in the framework of WHO and the GFATM Cooperation and Financing Agreement.

    This event aimed to provide a platform for countries and key partners to exchange good practices and lessons learned in transitioning from external to domestic financing of TB, HIV and Malaria response within the context of the Universal Health and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Experts of Curatio International Foundation joined the workshop as presenters and facilitators at the following sessions:

    Day 1
    15:30 – 15:50

    Transition from a donor: common barriers, challenges, and lessons learned
    Keynote Speech –  George Gotsadze, President, Curatio International Foundation

    Day 2

    Strategies for scaling up and sustaining effective and evidence-based services for key and vulnerable populations
    Facilitator: Ivdity Chikovani, Senior researcher, Curatio International Foundation

    Ensuring access to quality key health products and TB, HIV and Malaria medicines: Challenges, opportunities, and the need to develop reliable and efficient systems for procurement and supply chain management
    Method: Presentation and Table Conversations
    Facilitator: Tamar Gotsadze, Consultant at Curatio International Foundation

    Day 3
    10:00-11:00

    In dialogue with the partners, Panel discussion (WHO, GFATM, USAID, GAVI (TBC), Stop TB Partnership, UNAIDS, GIZ)
    Method: Talk Show Style Panel Discussion
    Moderator: George Gotsadze, President, Curatio International Foundation
    Jost Wagner, The Change Initiative

  • Memorandum of Cooperation between the Health and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia and Curatio International Foundation

    Chairman of the Health Care and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia Akaki Zoidze and Curatio International Foundation President George Gotsadze signed a memorandum of cooperation.

    The collaboration aims to support evidence usage by the parliament when dealing with the health policy issues. Curatio International Foundation will support the capacity development of staff of the Parliament to look for and supply the needed evidence in the decision-making process.

    The Memorandum of Cooperation is signed in the frame of ongoing project Embedding Rapid Reviews in Health Systems Decision-Making (ERA) initiated by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and being implemented by Curatio International Foundation.

    The project aims to enhance and strengthen sustainability for use of evidence in decision-making in health policy.

    The project is in progress from July 2018 and will last until November 2019.

    For more information, please visit the page.

  • Embedding Rapid Reviews in Health Systems Decision-Making (ERA)

    General Overview

    As a result of the constitutional amendments passed at the end of 2017, Georgia became a parliamentary republic. It increased the role of the legislature in policy development and supervision. As a result of these amendments, the Committee on Health and Social Affairs of Georgia has taken over more authority and powers to monitor the activities and policy implementation by the government, to regularly request reports maintained at the Ministry of Health and other agencies in order to analyze their performance and to develop recommendations. Consequently, the Committee has become more actively involved in reforming healthcare sector and in solving public policy issues.

    The platform – ERA / REM introduction in healthcare policy development – has been established to facilitate the ongoing process. The establishment of the platform is in line with the recent trends and provides for the possibility to promote evidence-based policy-making in the country.

    About the project

    Curatio International Foundation has been implementing the project initiated by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) since July 2018.

    The project aims at building capacities of evidence-based and sustainable decision-making in the field of healthcare policy development

    Project goals
    • Identification of pressing health policy topics/ issues
    • Introduction of evidence-based rapid evaluation methods
    • Preparation of REM evaluations on selected topical issues
    • Facilitation of evidence-based decision-making.
    Donors and Parents

    The project is financially supported by the World Health Organization and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. The project is implemented by Curatio International Foundation in cooperation with the Committee on Health and Social Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia. Technical support to the project is also provided by St. Micheal’s Hospital-Knowledge Translation Program (Canada), Makerere University (Uganda)

    Geographical Coverage

    Georgia

    Project Timeline

    The project has been implemented since July 2018 and will run until November 2019.

  • Curatio International Foundation at the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research

    During October 8-12, 2018 Liverpool hosted the Fifth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research. Curatio International Foundation, as a secretariat of Health Systems Global, organzied the event for the second time in close collaboration with HSG’s partners.

    Over 2300 participants from around the world gathered to discuss urgent healthcare issues, the role of the private sector in health, new ways of financing health to achieve UHC aspirations, leaving no one behind and addressing equity challenges, a creation of new social and political alliances and new technologies to promote health for all. Policymakers, activists, community representatives, managers, researchers and educators from around the world shared new information and insights from their experiences.

    The program of the symposium is accessible here.

    The executive director of Health Systems Global George Gotsadze summarized the society’s achievements for the time being. He mainly focused on HSG membership growth, engagement & diversity and also, outlined the society’s role in advocating for and advancing the field of HPSR.

    Download the annual presentation here. 

    Experts of Curatio International Foundation joined the symposium as its participants. Read more about there presentations and panel sessions:

    Payment for performance (P4P): how, why, where and what? Learning from research across income settings

    Tuesday, October 9, 2018
    08:00 – 17:00
    Mersey Suite at Pullman Hotel
    Satellite session

    This one-day event gathered pay for performance researchers and policymakers working in high and low and middle-income settings to learn from each other. Participants examined research methods and results emerging from these different settings, and reflected on how the research and policy context shapes these.

    Curatio International Foundation Representative: Ivdity Chikovani Ivdity Chikovani from Curatio International Foundation presented experience from the Results4TB project on how the P4P intervention and evaluation design has been shaped by policy context in Georgia.

    Download the presentation and abstract by Ivdity Chikovani.

     

    Digital innovation in health systems

    Wednesday, October 10, 2018
    12:30 – 13:30
    ACC Hall 2F
    Panel session

    This session contrasted the experience of European countries that have invested heavily in digital health technologies with those that are only beginning to do so, and examined key challenges and unintended consequences. The perspectives of policymakers, implementers and end-users were provided, as well as questions around the research and investment infrastructure that needs to be in place to enable the transfer of lessons for LMICs.

    Curatio International Foundation Participant: George Gotsadze

     

    Managing the transition from development assistance: how to sustain health gains

    Friday, October 12, 2018
    11:00 – 12:30
    ACC room 4A
    Oral session

    As countries transition from donor funding towards greater reliance on domestic financing, they need to ensure that national programs continue to deliver high coverage of priority interventions. The presentations in this session consider how transition plans are engaging other sectors, seeking opportunities for integration, securing supplies of essential drugs and supplies, and targeting resource allocation to achieve efficiency gains.

    Curatio International Foundation Representative: Lela Sulaberidze spoke about How to sustain public health gains in the SDG era when countries in the European region transition from the Global Fund support.

    Download the abstract by Lela Sulaberidze.

     

     

    Curatio Team at the Symposium

    Giorgi Gotsadze – President of Curatio International Foundation and Director of Health Systems Global (HSG)
    Nana Jalaghonia – Coordinator of Health Systems Global (HSG)
    Ketevan Goguadze – Curatio International Foundation, Head of Business Development Department
    Tamar Goguadze – Financial and Administrative Director
    Adity Chikovani – Senior Researcher
    Lela Sulaberidze – Researcher
    Maya Uchaneishvili – Manager of Research Unit

     

  • The civil society gathered for the fourth time to discuss healthcare system challenges in Georgia

    On September 27-29, the fourth work meeting of a civil society was held in Kachreti. Representatives of a civil society, media, and academia convene under the framework of the joint project of Curatio International Foundation and Open Society Foundation.

    The project aims at empowering organizations working on health issues and their active member to make them able to respond to challenges of the health care system, to bring them together around specific issues and to make the system more accessible, effective and human-oriented through their concerted effort.

    The goal of the fourth meeting with the civil society was to enhance skills of effective communication in response to healthcare challenges to make it easy to engage in advocacy in the future and to provide evidence-based solutions to decision-makers. Ms. Gvantsa Asatiani, an expert on communications talked about methods and the latest approaches to advocacy communication. We will also plan for the follow-up actions for the future activity of the society.

    During the previous three meetings, the civil society discussed the challenges of the pharmaceutical sector and analyzed current arrangements on the market making medications less accessible to the population. Issues related to local and international healthcare practices, the universal healthcare program of Georgia and the budgeting cycle were also discussed.

    The financial support to the project is provided by the Open Society Network. The project plans to cover health issues which are highly relevant to the civil society, to enhance the systematic knowledge of the society for the future advocacy in the field and for its active participation in the ongoing developments.

  • Project: HIV risk behavior among Men who have Sex with Men – Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey and Population Size Estimation

    Introduction and Overview

    Georgia is among the countries with low HIV/AIDS prevalence but with a high potential for the development of a widespread epidemic. From the early years of the epidemic injecting drug use was the major route for HIV transmission, however, for the last years, heterosexual transmission is prevailing ( 51.5% in 2016). According to the national HIV surveillance system, infections acquired through homosexual contact contributed to 16.8% of all newly registered cases in 2016.

    Curatio International Foundation continues implementation of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Surveys among Key Affected Population Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), with the aim to measure HIV prevalence among, monitor risk behaviors, and generate evidence for advocacy and policy-making.

    The fifth wave of the study will also include Population Size Estimation.

     

    Country of Implementation

    Georgia (Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi)

     

    Organizations Involved

    Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey and Population Size Estimation will be conducted together with partner organization – Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health Tanadgoma. The study is financially supported by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health in the frame of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) grant.

     

    Project objectives and Contributions 

    The project aims to generate reliable information about MSM population size and define the population HIV and Hepatitis C risk behavior. The results of the study will be used to assess the national response to HIV/AIDS and to plan an adequate national program.

    Project objectives are:

    • Conducting supervision over behavior in MSM in three cities in Georgia: Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi; Biomarker testing on HIV infection, C hepatitis, and STI (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea).
    • Assessment of the approximate size of the MMS population in 3 towns of Georgia (Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi) and calculation of the estimated size of MSMs across the country.

     

    The final documents:

    1. Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey in 2018
    2. Population Size Estimation, 2018

  • Curatio International Foundation at AIDS2018

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Curatio International Foundation joined the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, July 22-27.

    Researchers Natia Shengelia and Lela Sulaberidze shared the latest experience from Georgia about AIDS and responsive programs. They informed the global community on how HIV, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C programs progress in Georgia.

    Researcher Lela Sulaberidze participated in a panel session ‘Transitioning from donor support for HIV and TB programmes in Eastern Europe: Collective action for an effective response’. Lela spoke about the impact of HIV and TB commodity procurement and mitigation strategies as a case study from Georgia as a transitional country from Global Fund’s support. Other representatives from Bulgaria and Estonia gave different examples of challenges countries face during the transition from Global Fund support and shared the strategies they use to mitigate the impact. Read more about the session in the conference program.

    CIF researchers also represented posters highlighting the latest study finding:

    1. Harm reduction program intervention and behavioral factors correlation with anti-hepatitis C positivity among people who inject drugs in Georgia
    2. Trend in HIV incidence and prevalence in men who have sex with men in Georgia, 2010 to 2015

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