Zurab Chkhaidze on the report of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture: We will take into account the conclusion from the medical point of view - as for the environment, this is the prerogative and competence of the penitentiary institution, the clinic cannot intervene

What is done medically in "Vivamed" is completely adequate and it is very important for us. As for the environment, this is the prerogative of the penitentiary institution - the clinic will not interfere in the observance of environmental rules, - the clinical director of the "Vivamed" clinic, Zurab Chkhaidze, told "InterpressNews" about the report of the committee for the prevention of torture.

According to him, regarding Mikheil Saakashvili, an "individual treatment plan has been drawn up and based on the studies conducted from the very first day, he has had a completely adequate course of treatment, which has been agreed upon with specialists in various fields inside and outside the country.

"The environment is not the competence of the clinic, and the clinic will not interfere in the observance of environmental rules in any way. It is important in the committee's conclusion that the attention is focused on the medical side. We fully agree that patients, including those from penitentiary institutions, have full access to medical services, after which they receive adequate treatment in accordance with international standards. This is the main thing for us. What is done in the clinic from a medical point of view - whether it is research or treatment according to modern standards, is completely adequate, this is very important for us. As for the environment, this is the prerogative and competence of the penitentiary institution", said Zurab Chkhaidze.

Regarding the part of the committee's report that "neither a psychiatrist nor clinical psychologists worked in the clinic", Chkhaidze explains that the clinic cannot have a psychiatrist all the time.

According to him, the clinic will consider the conclusion from the medical point of view.

"The medical angle is important for us and we will take the conclusion into account in this regard. As for the permanent employment of narrow specialists, we are not a psychiatric clinic, so we cannot have a psychiatrist in the clinic all the time. We have signed a contract with psychiatrists. When their involvement is necessary, we invite them on the basis of this agreement, and accordingly, they have the opportunity to conduct consultations and prescribe treatment", said Zurab Chkhaidze.

According to him, the committee does not actually have any comments from the medical point of view.

"Of course, we will continue in such a way that the relevant studies, which are necessary and necessary for the patient, will be conducted on time", said Zurab Chkhaidze.

We remind you that the "European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment" published a report on the visit of the committee's delegation to Georgia, in which the current situation at the "Vivamed" clinic is evaluated. The document also talks about the former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, whom the authors of the report refer to as "Patient C".

According to the document, the delegation revealed the absence of real individual treatment plans and a multidisciplinary approach.

"Another serious shortcoming was that neither a psychiatrist nor clinical psychologists worked in the clinic. "The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment" recommends that steps be taken to improve access to mental health care (including psychological assistance) for prisoners transferred to the secure ward of the "Vivamed" clinic," the report states.