“Great Plan of Health Reform” 300 Medical Jobs Cut in Zugdidi”

Nana Pazhava, Zugdidi

According to the April 10, 2007 resolution of the Georgian Minister of Economical Development four medical institutions in Zugdidi were purchased by Ltd “Block Georgia”  for symbolic price 1000 USD within the scheme of the “Great Plan for the Development of Hospital Sector”. Zugdidi central hospital was one among the four purchased institutions in the region. This deal was completed in spite of the fact that the doctors are said to have owned 10 % of the shares of this hospital. Consequently, the minority stockholders are protesting the purchase, and they have already organized two protest demonstrations in an effort to protect their rights.

Approximately 300 medical personnel from Zugdidi Central Hospital and Union of Zugdidi district Out-Patients and Polyclinics should have to leave their jobs by the end of October.

Marina Jikia, gynaecologist: “The head of the department informed us that we will be evicted from the building within two weeks. He learned about it from the hospital’s administration. Davit Pipia, manager of Block Georgia told them about their intention. We were all furious and then they spontaneously organized demonstrations in reaction. We prepared petitions to be given the Georgian President and Chairman of the Georgian Parliament. However, hasn’t been any reply as yet. Mikheil Saakashvili used to state that all such incident s should be investigated. However, when he made similar statements it was pre-election campaign and he used such rhetoric more than ever to draw the needed votes from doctors.”

Doctors also admit that hospital will not continue to work with a low level of technical material base and would have been unable to win in the competition. However, everything can be survived with the effort of professional personnel and the good will of investors.

Marina Jikia: “We demand to maintain one building of the hospital with necessary surrounding territory. The whole territory of the hospital consists of 4 hectares. So, the Ministry of Economical Development should be satisfied with the rest of the area. Our salary arrears have already amounted to 250, 000 GEL. We are ready to spend this sum on the rehabilitation of the hospital. How should they not even have considered our proposal?! This is the hospital that works according to its own standards and has been most accessible for the local population. Those 300 fired medical personnel have their families behind them at least 1 500 people in total.”

The administration of the Union of the Zugdidi district Out-patients and Polyclinics had information about the up-coming changes. Vakhtang Kukava, the director, stated that both institutions could continue functioning until Zugdidi based hospital “Respublika” was rehabilitated. However, the concrete process was not yet been determined.

Nearly 170 people work in the union, however, in spite of this the up-coming changes will reflect on at least 100 personnel in each institution. Other doctors and employees of village out-patient clients will be able to keep their jobs.

Vakhtang Kukava: “I fully understand the sorrowfulness of the staff that will now lose their jobs. I hear them complaining why the administration keeps silence. I can’t understand why we do not protect their rights. But I cannot oppose the health reforms as I think this reform is necessary. I hope the contest will be transparent and those who will win will also be employed.”

 The director of the union underlined that old system left top heavy number of staff members. Rehabilitated medical centre will not employee so many people as before. However, Vakhtang Kukava does not deny that the union has done much during its existence.

Ketevan Zarkua, the head of Zugdidi Central Hospital speaks about the necessity of the reform. She will protect the rights of her employees during the contest.

Ketevan Zarkua: “The personnel request to maintain the hospital but it is impossible to speak in such condition and they also know it. Material-technical base is too old. We have almost no programs. The only program we ran was about children as was done in cooperation with the “Respublika” hospital. The budget of the program was a mere 2,100 GEL and it was being implemented based on sub-contract each month. Surgery and intensive therapy works based on internal standards and no programs were being implemented. Finally, insurance companies also entered the market and we had some orders. Nonetheless, it was unable for us to resist the competition.”

Unlike hospital administrations, medical personnel assess that material technical base was intentionally damaged by the administration because and even before the presidential elections in 2008. Medical staffers were promised support and assistance from investors who visited the hospitals. Otherwise, the response from doctors would have turned into a social protest.

Marina Jikia: “Block Georgia has not paid any attention to us since it purchased the hospitals. We do not know what responsibilities Mamuka Janashvili; the investor has assumed in exchange what was basically a present. However, when we asked for certain sum to repair the roof of the hospital father of Janashvili promised to apportion money though he did not follow through. As for Mamuka Janashvili himself, we have never seen him. The only meeting with him was arranged by Kvitashvili Georgian Minister of Healthcare. This was after Janashvili had a party at the restaurant that is located next to the hospital. He had already departed for Kutaisi. Nevertheless, the meeting was not successful at all.”

Mamuka Janashvili, the head of the Ltd Block Georgia appeared in Zugdidi on October 18 when St. Luka Medical Centre was first opened. He was accompanied by Minister Kvitashvili. Mamuka Janashvili has reported to the Human Rights Centre about the medical treatment of patients and the conditions of Zugdidi district hospital, which he considers on the level of a crime.

Mamuka Janashvili: “We cannot leave the hospital in such conditions. No medical centres will be closed down until the personnel have been re-trained. Many people will be employed based on the competition. I cannot tell you the exact number of future personnel because a English Company will be operating the hospital and they will decide the operational procedures and regulations. Before that we will not be implement anything. A hospital with 150 beds will be enough for Zugdidi and it will not be overcrowded at all. Thus, several centres will not continue to work.”

Georgian Minister of Labor Healthcare and Social Welfare assesses the current situation more optimistically and promises the personnel that they will be employed.   

Aleksandre Kvitashvili: “Much more must be done in future. This hospital will function for still some but and nobody will be unemployed. There will be some other projects too.... They are not unemployed now and why they protest?! They will not have a problem of unemployment in the future.”

Doctors from Zugdidi recalled one visit of Aleksandre Kvitashvili when he “presented” doctors with the hospital after he visited it.

Marina Jikia: “”The Minister “presented” us with the hospital when we explained that everything in the hospital was done by ourselves together with our family members. We repaired the buildings that were burnt down during war. The minister said that we deserved to own this hospital. Can a conflict zone have only one hospital?! When the situation become tensed back  in August and Samegrelo Region was occupied officials came and counted our beds; they wanted us to be ready to receive people. So, we are necessary for people!”

Doctors owning 10 % of stocks intend to appeal to the court. Doctors from Zugdidi threaten to hold large protest demonstrations which will be like a live chain in Zugdidi.

The hospital “Respublika” with 150 beds is ready to receive patients. However, as Janashvili stated, it will not work full-time. Why?! A reply to this question was easily found several meters away in the street. A woman was watching the opening process of St. Luka Medical Centre in the distance. “Many people cannot receive treatment in this hospital. At least until their life is in serious danger. If you do not have insurance policy you cannot afford the bill. Who will be able to have their medical test completed?! They say many doctors are working there and can you see how many wounded and injured have been brought to the hospital and they do not have enough surgeons in the receptionist to serve three patients in total. And if you need medical assistance at night there is a problem and the family should go and look for doctors at their homes. However, I guess you cannot complain as Health Reform has been implemented.”