New Paper: Financial protection and universal health coverage in Georgia: an analysis of impoverishing healthcare costs using household income and expenditure surveys

CIF researchers Tsotne Gorgodze, Akaki Zoidze, Jolly Mae Catalan and George Gotsadze published new scientific article in the BMJ Global Health Journal. The article entitled “Financial protection and universal health coverage in Georgia: an analysis of impoverishing healthcare costs using household income and expenditure surveys” has been developed in the frame of the “Why do people get impoverished from health spending, when the universal health care program covers 90% of the population?” project and aims to assesses the impact of three pharmaceutical policy interventions introduced between 2017 and 2023 on monthly household drug expenditures.

Financial protection is a key goal of universal health coverage, ensuring people can access healthcare without being pushed into financial hardship. Despite Georgia’s Universal Health Coverage Programme (UHCP) reaching nearly 90% of the population since 2013, levels of catastrophic and impoverishing health spending remain high compared to other European countries. A CIF study using data from 198,292 households (2009–2023) found that out-of-pocket spending on medicines is the strongest driver affecting household well-being. Strengthening outpatient drug coverage through increased public investment and progressive benefit expansion could potentially improve financial protection and reduce healthcare costs.

The research project is funded by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia. The project is implemented by the Curatio International Foundation.

DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019150

Read full paper here

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