Agency for Social Subsidies Block Assistance to Terminal Cancer Patient

Natela Tamazashvili, a disabled, blind and suffering from cancer, blames the Kakheti regional coordination center for the Agency of Social Subsidies for having exceeding their authority.

Tamazashvili wrote in her letter appeal to the Human Rights Center and her difficult conditions. She explained how she now lives with her unemployed husband and their circumstances are dire, as there is no income for the family. On August 10 2007 their family received 54, 850 points in the data base for socially excluded families. “We did not receive any allowances, only a medical insurance policy. In March of 2008 I was taken to the National Cancer Center with an open wound but the doctors refused to assist me because my medical card was invalid. Apparently, the Agency for Social Subsidies terminated my right to use the medical assistance card. And upon the second scoring my family was then awarded with 99, 590 points. However, I do not agree with the final conclusion because we have sold everything valuable and made our living conditions even worse. I know that I have terminal cancer and will I will soon die. However, please help me in the meantime to somehow prolong my life by restoring my medical card,” wrote Natela Tamazashvili in her plea.

The Human Rights Center started monitoring of the implementation of the Poverty Reduction State Program in Kakheti region. Within the monitoring system the lawyers for the centre will provide socially excluded families with free legal assistance. It is clear that these families deserve help from the state but are kept from being able to obtain the much needed medical and social assistance that they are entitled.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti