The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs explains what is envisaged by the ministerial order of December 31, 2025.

According to the Ministry of Health, the change concerns only the so-called capitation financing mechanism for medical institutions within the ambulatory care component and does not apply to any other components of the universal healthcare program, including emergency outpatient and inpatient services.

The ministry emphasizes that upon returning to Georgia, a citizen can, without any restrictions, register at an outpatient medical institution and fully receive services provided under the program.

“Information circulated in the media suggesting that Georgian citizens who remain outside the country for more than six months will not be able to use universal healthcare services does not correspond to reality and represents a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. For the purpose of informing society, we clarify: all Georgian citizens who were receiving medical services under the universal healthcare program will continue to benefit from the program without any changes. Medical services are not restricted, including for Georgian citizens who are abroad. The change concerns only the financing of outpatient institutions. Previously, the state paid a fixed amount to clinics even in cases when a Georgian citizen was not in the country and, accordingly, was not receiving medical services.

We stress that by the Minister of Health’s order of December 31, 2025, the change applies only to the capitation financing mechanism for ambulatory medical services and does not extend to any other components of universal healthcare, including emergency outpatient and inpatient services.

It is important that upon returning to Georgia, a citizen can register at an outpatient medical institution without any restrictions and fully receive the services provided by the program.

This decision serves to strengthen the state universal healthcare program, prevent non-targeted expenditures, and protect the interests of beneficiaries,” the statement says.