Medical Personnel Organized Warning Assembly in Guria

Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria

Jewish Company Adit purchased medical centers in Lanchkhuti and Chokhatauri districts two years ago and took responsibility to arrange modern hospitals in both districts. However, medical personnel have not received salaries for a long time already.

 

Adit blames insurance companies in the current situation; their representatives said the insurance companies owe over 900 000 lari to them.

In the contrary to that, insurance companies deny the accusation and blame the Adit itself. However, medical personnel is victimized in this controversy and on that ground doctors from Lanchkhuti and Chokhatauri districts organized warning assembly on August 9.

Director of the Adit Lanchkhuti hospital Tinatin Goguadze told humanrights.ge that medical personnel have been applying to different institutions in vain.

“We have been applied to different institutions for several months already but we could not receive our salaries yet; they transferred only February salary. We do not even know whether contract will be extended with Aditi or a new sponsor will appear or the state will take responsibility over the hospitals. Unless they pay our salaries, we will appeal to the court.”

Doctors said at the assembly on August 9 that Company Adit does not implement its responsibilities. Head of majoritarian MP’s bureau Gogi Gegiadze also arrived at the assembly.

“It is a pity that district hospital works in similar conditions. I am informed about their problems. The point is that Adit is a private company, which failed to implement contract responsibilities. This is not only Lanchkhuti’s problem; hospitals in seven other districts face same problems. The MP was actively involved in the process; we applied to everyone who could assist and received only one reply – intensive negotiations are going on with Adit. I think, this company shall be immediately expelled from Lanchkhuti district and the hospital shall be put in charge of the state or district administration.”

Medical personnel said if their requirements are not met, they will hold large-scaled demonstrations.

Personnel of Chokhatauri district hospital also protested to request distribution of salaries on August 9. Doctors have not received salaries of six months in Chokhatauri.

Medical personnel of the Chokhatauri district hospital told humanrights.ge that Adit breached contract-requirements.

Levan Megrelishvili, surgeon: “Employees of Chokhatauri district hospital Adit Ltd express solidarity with our colleagues from other eight districts. We have not received salaries, infrastructure, medical apparatus are out of order; consequently we cannot properly serve patients.”

Humanrights.ge contacted medical director of the Adit Ltd Koka Pruidze.

He said Adit is not guilty in those problems because insurance companies owe money to the Ltd and the company cannot distribute salaries for that reason.

“Adit depends on the transfers of insurance companies and state programs. Unfortunately, insurance companies have been breaching their obligations for last ten months. Today, insurance companies have accumulated the debt of about 970 000 lari. Insurance Company Alfa is one of our debtors. For that reason, we cannot pay salaries to doctors.

Humanrights.ge contacted representative of the Insurance Company Alfa in Lanchkhuti Revaz Kverenchkhiladze, who said similar issues shall be settled directly with the Company. 

“As far as I know, we have no debts to the Adit; but, I cannot give competent answer to you,” Kverenchkhiladze said.

Before Adit settles problems with insurance companies, doctors cannot get their salaries and threat with large-scaled demonstrations.