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  • Barriers and Facilitators to Screening and Treatment of HCV among IV drug-users in the Republic of Georgia: A Formative Qualitative Study

    Status: Closed

    Introduction and Overview

    In Georgia HCV treatment has become accessible to the population through a new government initiative. This initiative entails the provision of costly HCV treatment drugs at a lower cost (60% lower than the market price) to the patients who have completed HCV diagnostic testing. The hepatitis C program has been placed high on the country’s political agenda, which demonstrates the priority of this public health problem. Since 2008, harm reduction programs operating in all major cities of Georgia provide free HCV antibody testing to PWIDs along with other preventive interventions. On average 2,000 IDUs get tested, and around 50% screen positive for exposure to HCV annually. Although preventive programs encourage HCV positive individuals to continue with further diagnostic procedures and treatment, the care and treatment outcomes for these individuals is unclear. Greater knowledge regarding the facilitators and barriers to diagnosis and care is urgently needed to ensure the country provides the most effective coverage of the population, and to help guide the implementation and refinement of the government’s new hepatitis C program.

    Organizations involved in the research

    The Curatio International Foundation (leading), Public Union Bemoni (partner) and New York University College of Nursing have considerable experience in the field of public health research, qualitative research methods, HCV research and studies with PWIDs.

    Expected Results and Their Application

    The implementation of this research will generate evidence that will in turn inform the future design of the Hepatitis C program. Specifically, the research findings will help to identify the barriers and facilitating factors to providing adequate HCV care and treatment. Additionally, it will assist in guiding the design of strategies to remove these barriers and enhance enabling factors, thus increase the effective coverage of the program.

    Sustainability Implementation Plan

    In Georgia there is no evidence regarding the factors that influence PWIDs decision to take the HCV test and to seek treatment following a positive test. Moreover, since the introduction of the government’s Hepatitis C program, there is a changing context (a decrease in the financial barriers), the influence of which, is interesting to investigate. Therefore, the findings of this research will be unique

    Read the report >>

     

  • Infographic: HIV/AIDS in Georgia

    Though preventive programs are focused on the high risk population, we face slightly but growing tendency of HIV/AIDs among general population.

  • Washington DC hosts workshop Immunization Costing: what have we learned, can we do better?

    On May 17-18 EPIC Immunization Costing hosts workshop Immunization Costing: what have we learned, can we do better? in Washington DC.  CIF executive director George Gotsadze and Business Develop
    ment unit director Ketevan Goguadze are invited to attend the event.

    George Gotsadze will be one of the panelist in the panel discussion: Sustainable institutional linkage and improving immunization program implementation, taking place on May 18 in frame of the workshop.

    About the event: EPIC supports a community of practice comprised of researchers and practitioners concerned with measuring immunization program cost and financial flow – and utilizing such information to improve program operations and mobilize resources.

    A 300 members’ community from more than 50 organizations are involved in immunization programs across the globe, exchanging information and enabling new approaches, collect and use cost information to improve vaccine delivery.

    The workshop is sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and organized by Harvard School of Public Health.

  • Strengthening Capacity of Civil Society for Promoting Research Evidence into Policy Development in Georgia

    Strengthening Capacity of Civil Society for Promoting Research Evidence into Policy Development in Georgia
    The idea of initiating the project was prompted by aggressive health and insurance market oriented reforms focusing on hospital sector privatization and financing of health care services through the private insurance companies. Implicit risks posing this campaign and fast pace of implementation needed to be mitigated through effective and evidence informed policies and regulations.

    The project aims to achieve development of policies that are: a) evidence informed; b) tailored to Georgia’s social, economic and cultural context, and c) responsive to public interest. Curatio International Foundation intends to contribute to achieving this goal by allying two distinct networks of NGOs and strengthening their capacity in delivering evidence into policy process. The alliance gathers experts in their own operations field, been active as watchdogs for health sector reforms on one hand and focusing on mental health issues on another hand.

    Curatio International Foundation embarked on a strategy of using evidence-informed advocacy as an essential ingredient in the policy development process. The Evidence to Policy is viewed through institutional lens rather than individual, therefore it focuses on interventions on institutions and on strengthening the links between institutions within and outside of the NGO networks through trainings of NGO staff and establishing Information Exchange Platforms. Training topics were informed from the assessment of capacity needs undertaken prior to project launch.

    As a result of this project it is expected that:

    * The capacity of NGOs involved in the network will be increased in accessing, acquiring and communicating available evidence to policy makers;
    * NGOs will develop better capacity to identify policy relevant research evidence and use the means of communication to effectively influence the policymakers;
    * NGO and stakeholder understanding about how they could engage with each other will improve “bonding” and “bridging” ties that link researchers, policy makers and NGOs involved in evidence informed policy making.

    NGO networks involved in alliance are:
    1. Network of NGOs already active as watchdogs and advocacy groups for health sector reforms:
    a. Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA)
    b. Transparency International Georgia
    c. Open Society Georgia Foundation (Soros Foundation national chapter)
    d. Association of Young Economists of Georgia (AYEG)
    e. Economic Policy Research Centre

    2. Network of NGOs focusing on mental health issues:
    a. Georgian Association for Mental Health (GAMH)
    b. Mental Health Coalition
    c. Association of People in Need of Special Care (APNSC)
    d. The Georgian Association for Psychosocial Aid “Ndoba”

  • Healthcare Utilization and Expenditures for Chronic and Acute Conditions in Georgia: Does benefit package design matter?

    An International peer reviewed journal BMC Health Services Research publishes an article Healthcare utilization and expenditures for chronic and acute conditions in Georgia: Does benefit package design matter?, authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

    The article presents study results, evaluating health care utilization and expenditures within the program: Medical Insurance for Poor in Georgia (MIP).

    The study assesses how the program effect varied for patients with different health conditions and identifies areas for improvement. The study documented that MIP had a more positive impact for patients with acute illnesses, while for beneficiaries with chronic illnesses, the positive impact was observed just during exacerbations.

    Increasing MIP benefits, particularly for patients with chronic illnesses, should receive priority attention if universal coverage objectives are to be achieved.

    Visit ResearchGate to read and download the article.

  • An Impact Evaluation of Medical Insurance for Poor in Georgia: Preliminary Results and Policy Implications

    An International peer reviewed journal Health Policy and Planning has published an article An impact evaluation of medical insurance for poor in Georgia: preliminary results and policy implications, authored by Curatio International Foundation experts.

    The authors evaluated the impact of Medical Insurance for Poor in Georgia (MIP), the Government program that delivered state-subsidized health benefits to the poorest groups of the Georgian population through contracts with private insurance companies.

    This study documented that after 3 years of the MIP implementation the program successfully managed to reduce financial access barriers for the MIP covered individuals by delivering greater financial benefits to the poorest. Although the MIP did not facilitate growth in health care utilization for all beneficiaries, positive trends were observed among capital city residents.

    The equity impact of the MIP and improved financial protection, especially for the poor, are benefits to be considered by the government for the Universal Health Coverage.

    Visit ResearchGate to read and download the article.

  • Policy Information Platform (PIP) Expert Consultation Meeting

    Policy Information Platform (PIP) expert consultation was held in Istanbul on 29-30 January, 2015. At the meeting methodological issues, roadmap for the PIP implementation and evaluation approaches were discussed.

    CIF director George Gotsadze and Research Unit director Ivdity Chikovani participated in the expert consultation.
    PIP is a repository of peer-reviewed publications and grey literature that should generate knowledge for health policy decision-making. PIP should respond to the priority topics emerging in the policy-making process.

    The project is an initiative of Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) aiming at alleviating access barriers to policy-relevant information at national level in low-middle income countries. The piloting countries are: Georgia, Argentina, Pakistan and Nigeria.

    In the pilot countries PIP implementing partners are: CIF, Argentina MoH, Pakistan King Edward Medical University and Nigeria Ebonyi State University.

    CIF contributes to the whole PIP initiative by developing methodological approaches for grey literature evaluation.

    The PIP project will be implemented during 2015-2016.

  • Civil Society Forum organized by Country Coordination Mechanism

    On January 29, at Courtyard Marriott Hotel was held a Civil Society Forum organized by Country Coordination Mechanism. The forum was part of country dialogue process regarding HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis issues. During the meeting, civil society representatives shared results of their work and challenges that still exists.

    Curatio International Foundation presented the latest data on HIV prevalence and transmission modes in the Key Affected Populations. Presented data was mainly based on the surveys repeatedly conducted by CIF (Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey and Population Size,
    MOT Study) and existing epidemiological situation in the country.

    For more detailed information see the presentation.

  • CIF Publishes the Short Movie on 20 Years of Healthcare, 2014

    Curatio International Foundation celebrates its 20 years anniversary and prepares short movie describing the history of health care reforms in Georgia after collapse of Soviet Union. The story is retailed directly by the people involved in the process and organizations that encouraged the progress: Amiran Gamkrelidze -Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairsin 2001-2003, Akaki Zoidze- Deputy State Minister in 2001-2003 years, Giorgi Gotsadze – CIF director, Alexander Kvitashvili – Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs in 2008-2010, Stephen Heikin- USAID/Caucasus Mission Director, Dandan Chen- World Bank Human Development Program Leader for the South Caucasus
    We appreciate their participation in the movie.

  • CIF Publishes Anniversary Publication '20 Years of Health Care, 2014

    20 Years Anniversary brochure describes reforms that have significantly altered the landscape of health care in Georgia after collapse of the Soviet Union. The contents draw on important publications and oral narratives by those who have been initiators, implementers and witnesses to all major changes in the history of Georgia’s health system over the last two decades.

    Please view the Publication as PDF 

     

    Please also view the Animation about the Publication: