Expert Group: Anti-epidemic measures are insufficient and require significant changes, otherwise the country will face a dramatically difficult period
The anti-epidemic measures taken by the state are already insufficient to curb the spread of the pandemic and it needs significant changes. Otherwise, the country will face a dramatically difficult period, - reads the address of the working group of experts, which was prepared within the joint platform of the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) and the USAID Democratic Governance Initiative (GGI).
The members of the working group say that responding to the pandemic should become a national security priority and the issue should shift from the arena of political struggle to the level of non-partisan, national interests.
"The new coronavirus and its disease have posed a major challenge to Georgia, as well as to many other countries. As of November 14, the daily rate of COVID-infected people exceeded 3,500, and the 14-day rate per 100,000 population amounts to 944. According to the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, the number of daily cases is increasing, but the number of daily tests does not increase proportionally. This makes us believe that the actual number is higher in the country than it is confirmed by a laboratory study and is officially recorded. It is clear that the anti-epidemic measures taken by the state today are already insufficient to curb the spread of the pandemic and it needs significant changes. Otherwise, the country will face a dramatically difficult period, which will make it impossible not only to manage the coronavirus epidemic, but will also severely restrict access to other emergency and planned medical services. Professionals united on the healthcare platform at the Center for Economic Policy Research believe it is important that we all agree on the following principle: pandemic response should be a national security priority when a consolidated and effective response is impossible without public consent, support and redistribution of responsibility.
The following emergency steps should be taken immediately: Strengthen the management mechanism of the epidemic response in the country; Shifting the issue of management from the arena of political struggle during the management of the epidemic to the level of bipartisan, national interests; Establishing a temporary national mechanism with maximum involvement of stakeholders, which will strengthen public trust and support, promote transparency of the process, instead of polarization, and combine the best resources in the country to overcome the epidemic; Clearly separate responsibilities, tighten enforcement discipline, which is necessary to strengthen the role and capacity of the Ministry of Health and for effective inter-agency coordination; Reduce the need to turn to the medical system to prevent a collapse in the delivery of medical care; Creating / updating a technical algorithm for patient behavior; Creating and disseminating a common standard for the population - a guide; Activation of modern technologies, including real-time monitoring of the website, live consultations and other mechanisms; Service capacity optimization; Active cooperation with the private sector at all levels (transportation, laboratory services, hospital services, etc.); Use of service reimbursement mechanisms that reduce the material interest of providing less appropriate (justified) service delivery (whether it is laboratory services, or keeping patients hospitalized); Improving the quality of public information / communication; Develop a unified communication strategy and prepare and disseminate all public messages 24 hours a day according to plan; Consistency of communication messages; Transparency of the decision, sharing of success and failure", - reads the address signed by: Davit Gzirishvili, Giorgi Gotsadze, Nino Evgenidze, Akaki Zoidze, Iagor Kalandadze, Vakho Kaloyan, Nino Kiknadze, Levan Koberzadze, Anato Surugadze , Sergo Chikhladze, Keti Chkhatarashvili, Gigi Tsereteli and Zurab Chiaberashvili.
