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Janina Stauke from LSHTM was a CIF Intern during the 2024 Summer internship program, where she contributed to a project focused on understanding why individuals experience impoverishment due to health spending. In her role, conducted comprehensive literature review and has been involved in scientific paper development. Janina kindly provided her feedback through interview below: A: Hi, my name is Janina Stauke, and I work as a research associate in infectious disease epidemiology at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s National…
Jolly Mae Catalan was a CIF Intern during the 2024 Summer internship program, where she contributed to a project focused on understanding why individuals experience impoverishment due to health spending. In her role, Jolly examined the impact of the accessibility and affordability of medicines for the Georgian population. https://youtu.be/6RJ_9lx7wE4
Curatio International Foundation conducted a case study that examines Georgia's primary health care (PHC) response to the COVID-19 pandemic from January 2020 to July 2021. The multisectoral actions coordinated by the Interagency Coordination Committee under the Prime Minister’s leadership, effective public health response guided by the Ministry of Health and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health delayed the virus's arrival and slowed its spread. At the time of the epidemic onset the primary care system was not…
The aim of the CIF Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is to promote gender equality in an organization through institutional and cultural change. The gender equality plan aims to promote and achieve gender equality by addressing possible disparities, discrimination, and barriers affecting individuals based on gender. The plan aims to create an environment where all genders have equal opportunities, rights, and access to resources and where gender-based discrimination and stereotypes are eliminated. The CIF GEP is a set of commitments and…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_simple_slider ids="7415"][ultimate_spacer height="25"][vc_column_text]The summer internship program is now open! Master’s degree and Ph.D. students from around the world are invited to apply and use the possibility to develop advanced research skills, meet leading experts in the field and/or become a co-author of a scientific paper. We offer one bold research direction - the role of the private sector in health which has three focus areas: The private sector in health, especially for Low and Upper-Middle Income Country settings and looking…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On November 6, 2018, 25 civil society organizations agreed on coalition work and signed a new union positioning document. The Healthcare Advocacy Coalition (HAC) has emerged as an union of the different actors active in healthcare, health systems, good governance and human rights fields. The network has naturally emerged as a result of project entitled as “Strengthen civil society and increase their involvement in health policy development and monitoring” which has been implemented by Curatio International Foundation (CIF), with financial…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The summer internship program is now open! International students from around the world are invited to apply and use the possibility to develop advanced research skills, meet leading experts in the field and become a co-author of a scientific paper. In this wave, we offer three research directions to work on: Challenges and Solutions in Pharmaceutical sector in Georgia HIV Prevention and Risk Behaviour among Key Populations (MSM) Measurement of the Quality of Care The full announcement is available here.…
Bemoni Public Union together with Curatio International Foundation conducted a population size estimation study among injecting drug users in Georgia during 2016-2017. Also available: HIV risk and prevention behaviors among People Who Inject Drugs in six cities, Georgia, 2017 This study estimated the size of People Who Inject Drugs using different estimation methods to provide the most plausible estimates. The study was carried out in conjunction with the Bio Behavioral Surveillance Survey among injecting drug users. The study was financially…
7 სექტემბერს, 13 საათზე საერთაშორისო ფონდი კურაციო ვებინარის* ფორმატით წარადგენს მედიკამენტების ფასებისა და ხელმისაწვდომობის კვლევის შედეგებს, რომელიც 2016 წლის ივნისში გამოქვეყნდა. კვლევის პრეზენტაციას წარადგენს ფონდი კურაციოს აღმასრულებელი დირექტორი და ჯანდაცვის სისტემების ექსპერტი გიორგი გოცაძე. ვებინარის ფარგლებში აქცენტი გაკეთდება ორ მნიშვნელოვან საკითხზე : 1. როგორია გენერიული და ბრენდული მედიკამენტების ფიზიკური ხელმისაწვდომობა საქართველოში და რა გავლენა აქვს ამ ფაქტორს მოსახლეობის მკურნალობის ხარჯებზე; 2. როგორ უპასუხა ქართულმა ფარმაცევტულმა სექტორმა რეცეპტების შემოღების რეფორმას. ბოლო 30 წუთის განმავლობაში ბ-ნ გიორგი გოცაძე პასუხს გაგცემთ ონლაინ რეჟიმში…
Status: Closed project Introduction and Overview The overall purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and the UNICEF Country Office in conducting an assessment of the Patronage/Home Visiting (HV) System. The main purpose of the assessment will be to identify the main strengths and weaknesses of the patronage system. This will help determine what concrete actions and changes to make in order to strengthen its quality and increase its coverage. The…
Status: Closed Introduction and Overview In Georgia HCV treatment has become accessible to the population through a new government initiative. This initiative entails the provision of costly HCV treatment drugs at a lower cost (60% lower than the market price) to the patients who have completed HCV diagnostic testing. The hepatitis C program has been placed high on the country’s political agenda, which demonstrates the priority of this public health problem. Since 2008, harm reduction programs operating in all major…
Status: Closed project Introduction and Overview The goal of this project is to generate evidence and information on pharmaceutical prices and their availability at pharmacies; the enforcement of regulations regarding prescriptions; as well as pharmaceutical industry practices, in order to inform and strengthen health policy. Organizations involved in the research Curatio International Foundation conducts the fifth wave of the survay that is supported by the World Bank. Expected results and their application The objective of this study is to continue…
Introduction and Overview The Global Fund is one the major donor organization for TB, AIDS and Malaria programs management worldwide. It has operated in Georgia since 2003. Many achievements have been met thanks to the Global Fund. These include malaria elimination (since 2011), as well as universal HIV and TB diagnosis and treatment. However, beginning in July of 2016, the Global Fund halted the funding of those active programs in Georgia, and transitioned to the New Funding Model (NFM), which…
Introduction and Overview The Curatio International Foundation has been designated a Round 7 Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) grantee. CFCS, funded by the Stop TB partnership, is a mechanism that provides grants to technically sound, innovative interventions, to support the engagement of communities in national tuberculosis (TB) responses. With the following objectives, the goal for CFCS Round 7 is to strengthen community responses that are integrated and part of a comprehensive response to TB. Organisations Involved CIF will implement…
Version Control Version Author/Responsible person Approved by Date V1. RDMP Maia Uchaneishvili Ivdity Chikovani 10.03.2015 Introduction/Background Curatio International Foundation (CIF) uses own experience and best practices during creation of this Research Data Management Policy (RDMP). The owner of this RDMP is the Research Unit at CIF. It is mandatory for this RDMP to be reviewed and updated (if needed) on a regular basis. The revision shall take place at least every 2 years. The version control of this document…
In August 2014, Curatio International Foundation conducted an assessment of GAVI Alliance HSS support to Tajikstan to provide solid evidence of to what extent the support achieved its objectives and contributed to strengthen the health system of the country. The assessment aimed to identify successes, key challenges and lessons learned that may help GAVI Alliance to improve the design and implementation of future HSS support to Tajikistan and other countries. The assessment covered the period of GAVI’s HSS grant to Tajikistan…
After the conclusion of Gavi’s support period (2014) to the Albania, Curatio International Foundation conducted the evaluation study and assessed financial and programmatic sustainability through an in-depth analysis of Albania’s experiences and immunization programme performance before, during and after the conclusion of Gavi’s support period to the country. The evaluation also identified factors contributing to the sustainability of these programs and their achievements. The evaluation considered the types and quality of support received and the way in which Gavi’s support…
Opening and closing December 29, 2015 – June 30, 2016 Donors and Partners The World Bank Group Objective 1. To carry out the Implementation Assessment through implementation of the Immunization Module of the HFSA 2. To provide inputs to the broader HFSA Contribution 1) Pinpoint the immediate short-term needs to ensuring a successful transition away from GAVI assistance; 2) Identify longer-term sustainable approaches that will facilitate transitions well before graduation from GAVI support; 3) Contribute to a nuanced dialogue with…
On May 17-18 EPIC Immunization Costing hosts workshop Immunization Costing: what have we learned, can we do better? in Washington DC. CIF executive director George Gotsadze and Business Develop ment unit director Ketevan Goguadze are invited to attend the event. George Gotsadze will be one of the panelist in the panel discussion: Sustainable institutional linkage and improving immunization program implementation, taking place on May 18 in frame of the workshop. About the event: EPIC supports a community of practice comprised of researchers and…
Bemoni Public Union together with Curatio International Foundation conducted a population size estimation study among injecting drug users in Georgia in 2015. This study estimated the size of People Who Inject Drugs using different estimation methods to provide the most plausible estimates. The study was carried out in conjunction with the Bio Behavioral Surveillance Survey among injecting drug users. The study was financially supported by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). Full report is avalable here.
Strengthening Capacity of Civil Society for Promoting Research Evidence into Policy Development in Georgia The idea of initiating the project was prompted by aggressive health and insurance market oriented reforms focusing on hospital sector privatization and financing of health care services through the private insurance companies. Implicit risks posing this campaign and fast pace of implementation needed to be mitigated through effective and evidence informed policies and regulations. The project aims to achieve development of policies that are: a) evidence…
By 2012 there were 23 000 prisoners in the Georgian penitentiary system. Georgia had one of the highest in the world prison population rate per 100,000. The main reason for imprisonment in Georgia is drug-related crime. The majority of prisoners are arrested for repeated use of drugs or for keeping them in small amounts. Despite the fact that conditions in the prisons have improved over the last years, still the situation remains very hard. Prisons areconsidered as endemic areas for…
Curatio International Foundation together with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Association Tanadgoma has conducted the Behavior Surveillance Survey with biomarker component. The study report of Behavior Surveillance Survey with biomarker component among 210 prisoners will be available in early fall. The study was carried out in the framework of the Global Fund project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” by the Curatio international Foundation in collaboration…
An International peer reviewed Journal Vaccine, published an article Costs of routine immunization services in Moldova: Findings of a facility-based costing study. Authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation. The study evaluates the total economic and unit costs of the immunization program in the Republic of Moldova as part of a multi-country study supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The study shows that the cost of fully immunizing a child in a middle-income country is much higher…
In 2012-2014 Curatio International Foundation implemented the costing study that aimed to evaluate routine immunization program costs and financing as well as incremental costs and financing of a new vaccine introduction in the Republic of Moldova. The study was a part of a larger effort to evaluate costs and financing of routine immunization in six countries (Moldova, Benin, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Honduras) supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The study generated new information that will help a) improve…
An International peer reviewed Journal PLOS One has published an article Health Service Utilization for Mental, Behavioral and Emotional Problems among Conflict-Affected Population in Georgia: A Cross-Sectional Study, authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and GIP-Tbilisi. The article presents health care utilization patterns for mental, behavioral and emotional problems among the adult population in Georgia affected by 1990s and 2008 armed conflicts. The study suggests that there is limited use…
In 2014 Curatio International Foundation conducted a final evaluation of GAVI’s support to Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH), commissioned by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) Alliance Secretariat. The evaluation assessed both financial and programmatic sustainability through an in-depth analysis of BiH’s experiences and immunization program performance before, during and after the conclusion of GAVI’s period of support for the country. The evaluation also identified factors contributing to the sustainability of these programs and their achievements. GAVI’s support to…
An International peer reviewed journal BMC Health Services Research publishes an article Healthcare utilization and expenditures for chronic and acute conditions in Georgia: Does benefit package design matter?, authored by experts from the Curatio International Foundation and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The article presents study results, evaluating health care utilization and expenditures within the program: Medical Insurance for Poor in Georgia (MIP). The study assesses how the program effect varied for patients with different health conditions and…
Policy Information Platform (PIP) expert consultation was held in Istanbul on 29-30 January, 2015. At the meeting methodological issues, roadmap for the PIP implementation and evaluation approaches were discussed. CIF director George Gotsadze and Research Unit director Ivdity Chikovani participated in the expert consultation. PIP is a repository of peer-reviewed publications and grey literature that should generate knowledge for health policy decision-making. PIP should respond to the priority topics emerging in the policy-making process. The project is an initiative of…
Alexander Krengel from Seattle, US is a Master of Public Health student at Drexel University. He is interested in global health systems and issues about implementation health systems around the world. Thats why he became a CIF intern and spent 4 weeks in Georgia this winter. Drexel University publishes a short story about his exparance through the internship program. "...This winter break, Krengel found his opportunity to not only visit the country but also work on a project related to…
Curatio International Foundation celebrates its 20 years anniversary and prepares short movie describing the history of health care reforms in Georgia after collapse of Soviet Union. The story is retailed directly by the people involved in the process and organizations that encouraged the progress: Amiran Gamkrelidze -Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairsin 2001-2003, Akaki Zoidze- Deputy State Minister in 2001-2003 years, Giorgi Gotsadze - CIF director, Alexander Kvitashvili - Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs in 2008-2010, Stephen…
20 Years Anniversary brochure describes reforms that have significantly altered the landscape of health care in Georgia after collapse of the Soviet Union. The contents draw on important publications and oral narratives by those who have been initiators, implementers and witnesses to all major changes in the history of Georgia’s health system over the last two decades. Please view the Publication as PDF Please also view the Animation about the Publication:
On September 19, Curatio International Foundation celebrated the 20th anniversary. Alongside with our work it turned 20 years from Georgian healthcare system reforming start up, after collapse of Soviet Union. CIF celebrated the anniversary together with the people who were healthcare reform initiators, developers or the witnesses. The evening was also attended by the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Mr. David Sergeenko and former ministers: Avtandil Jorbenadze, Amiran Gamkrelidze, Gigi Tsereteli, Alexander Kvitashvili and Andrew Urushadze. During the…
Curatio International Foundation together with Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health TANADGOMA is implementing the research project which aims to generate reliable information to plan preventive interventions targeting key populations at riks of HIV/AIDS. Currently Georgia belongs to the groups of countries with concentrated HIV epidemics. According to the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health 4,131 People living with HIV (PLWH) were officially registered by the end of 2013. The number of newly registered cases is…
Curatio International Foundation together with Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health TANADGOMA implemented the survey project which aims to plan preventive interventions targeting high risk group and estimating the population size of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM). According National center for disease control and public health 4,131People living with HIV (PLWH) were officially registered by the end of 2013. The number of newly registered is 490 in 2013 and compare to 2012decreased by 7%. Georgia is…
Curatio International Foundation published results of the survey, representing expert evaluations of processes and changes taking place in the Georgian healthcare field. “Georgian Healthcare System Barometer” is based on evaluations of 98 experts and covers 6-month period – May-October, 2013. The survey was focused on expected results of the Universal Insurance; possible influence of steps made by the Government on private investments in healthcare; population health; quality of the medical service and medical education; a policy of healthcare financing. Curatio…
Development of a Strategic Plan to Strengthen Health Information System in Georgia project was financed by the Health Metrics Network (HMN). The project started in April 2007 and was completed in March 2008. The aim of the project was to formulate a sound health information system and development of the strategic plan aligned with HMN standards. The project focused on assisting the Government of Georgia (GoG) in identifying and convening country stakeholders from health, statistics, and development agencies; assessing the…
The project was funded by the Global Fund and implemented by the Curatio International Foundation (CIF) in partnership with Georgian Infectious diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center, Public Union “Bemoni,” and association “Tanadgoma.” The project took place from February, 2008 to December 2010. The aim of the project was to reform HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country. The project encompassed 3 basic components, each of them embracing series of activities. In the framework of the first (1) component of…
Rapid Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sector in Uzbekistan project was funded by The World Bank and implemented by Curatio International Foundation in partnership with Credes (France). The project commenced in 2003. The main objective of the project was to perform a rapid assessment designed to gather information on different issues like drug policy and regulation, strategic framework, product selection, forecasting methods, procurement mechanisms, quality assurance, storage, transport, and reporting. Other issues studied were the structures of public and private distribution systems,…
The project was implemented by CIF in collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) (Dr. Bayard Roberts, Professor Martin McKee, Professor Vikram Patel and Dr. Nino Makhashvili). The project was funded by Wellcome Trust (United Kingdom). Aim of this research study is to deepen understanding of the extent to which community-based influences may help promote mental health (including alcohol use) amongst IDPs and returnees in Georgia. The study would provide rigorous evidence on the burden of depression,…
In October 2013, the BlogTalkRadio program focusing on health hosted Katevan Chkhatarashvili, the President of Curatio International Foundation. Ketevan talks about her public health experience and CIF's role in transition of Georgia's health sector. New Health Internet Radio with Global Health Leaders on BlogTalkRadio
Ana Petriashvili became the winner of Curatio International Foundation Fellowship program for 2013- 2014. As the winner of the previous year, she too is the Master program student of International Public Health Department of Tbilisi State Medical University. Ana is socially active person, volunteer and enthusiastic. In the future, she plans to focus her strengths on mental health field. Her study will be dedicated to that issue as well: 'In the framework of my study, I plan to look at…
A conference titled ”Mental health and conflict in Georgia: turning research into practice” will be held on September 12, 2013 at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace, Tbilisi. The conference will present findings from the largest research project so far undertaken in Georgia on mental health among internally displaced persons and those who have returned to their permanent residence areas. The research was carried out by Curatio International Foundation, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Global Imitative on Psychiatry…
Which Region Has The Fastest-Growing HIV/AIDS Epidemic In The World?- Giorgi Gotsadze, Director of Curatio International Foundation was asked to discuss this issue with Forbes. The discussion precedes many health-related discussions to take place in September at the Clinton Global Initiative, the Social Good Summit, UN week and other such events. 'Editor’s Note: In advance of the many health-related discussions to take place in September at the Clinton Global Initiative, the Social Good Summit, UN week and other such events,…
On July 6, Sydney, Australia hosted the Private Sector in Health Symposium 2013. Three rounds of parallel sessions covered diverse range of issues, such as regulation, influencing quality of care, health financing and a focus on equity. Mr. George Gotsadze, on behalf of Curatio International Foundation was one of the speakers at the event. Purchasing private health insurance for the poor in Georgia: Preliminary results and policy implications was the topic Mr. Gotsadze presented on the 1st parallel session. Learn…
Curatio International Foundation has published the article on Springer, Aids and Behavior Section. The article covers the findings of CIF's recent study on Injection risk practices and risky sexual behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) and their sexual partners particularly vulnerable to HIV. The purpose of the study was to describe and understand determinants of high-risk sexual behavior among IDUs in Georgia. A cross-sectional, anonymous survey assessed knowledge, behavior and HIV status in IDUs in five Georgian cities (Tbilisi, Gori,…
Article published on International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 by Bayard Roberts, Ivdity Chikovani, Nino Makhashvili, Vikram Patel and Martin McKee There is very little evidence globally on tobacco use and nicotine dependence among civilian populations affected by armed conflict, despite key vulnerability factors related to elevated mental disorders and socio-economic stressors. The study aim was to describe patterns of smoking and nicotine dependence among conflict-affected civilian men in the Republic of Georgia and associations with…
Georgia is among the countries with low HIV/AIDS prevalence but high potential for developing a widespread epidemic. From the early stage of HIV epidemic in Georgia injecting drug use was the major mode of transmission. However, for the last two years heterosexual transmission became prevailing route for HIV spread. Current study represent the subsequent wave of Bio-Behavioral Surveys (Bio-BSS) undertaken in Georgia among People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) since 2002. Objective of Bio-BSS was to measure prevalence of HIV among…
HIV testing is an important preventive measure to avoid the HIV epidemics spread. Along with other measures implemented with the Government and donor organizations support in Georgia HIV testing is offered to the representatives of high-risk groups, including PWIDs. Although the level of awareness of this risk-group about the availability of counseling and testing services is satisfactory, the utilization of these services is low. This survey aimed at investigating factors promoting or hampering utilization of HIV testing services among PWIDs. The…
HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among key populations were studied in Georgia in 2012. The Biomarker Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (Bio-BSS) were carried out among People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) in six major cities, among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in Tbilisi, Female Sex Workers (FSW) in Tbilisi and Batumi, and Prison inmates. Bio-BSSs are repeatedly carried out among key populations to monitor HIV epidemics, provide measurements of HIV risk behaviors, evaluate preventive interventions and generate evidence for policy-making.…
On May 21, Curatio International Foundation together with fifteen Georgian Think Tanks signed an Ethical and Quality Standards Document. The document presents comprehensive standards to guide the work of Georgian think tanks and establishes principles to ensure that the think tanks meet the highest possible professional standards. The ethical code covers organizational themes such as transparency, accountability and governance, while the quality standards focuses on research, analysis, and advocacy processes. EWMI G-PAC assisted Georgian think tanks in developing these standards,…
Georgia is among the countries with low HIV/AIDS prevalence but with a high potential for the development of a widespread epidemic. From the early years of epidemic injecting drug use was the main route for HIV transmission, however, for the last two years heterosexual transmission is prevailing. According to the national HIV surveillance system, infections acquired through heterosexual contact account for 44.3% of all new HIV cases registered in 2012. This study represents the subsequent wave of Bio-BSS surveys undertaken…
In accordance with the results of Global Disease Survey conducted by World Health Organization in 2000, every year 21 million people are infected with B Hepatitis, 2 million – with Hepatitis C and 260 thousand are infected with HIV by means of contaminated injection. 40% of B and C Hepatitis incidences among medical personnel are associated with professional activities[1]. Current policy brief involves goals and findings of the study undertaken by Curatio International Foundation. The study looked at a) whether…
Curatio International Foundation developed the methodological guideline for conducting bio behavioral surveillance surveys. The document presents standarts of undertaking studies and includes sections such as general definition of terms, indicators, analytical tables etc. The document is available in Georgian.
In the framework of its internship program, during the first months of 2012 winter, Curatio International Foundation hosted two interns Lucia Callizo from Macalester college in Minnesota and Laura Covarrubias from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Interns made useful contribution to CIF ongoing research projects. As interns say, their experience at the Curatio International Foundation will help them foster their careers in international public health research. Here is the video where Laura and Lucia share their experience over…
In the framework of its internship program, during the first months of 2012 winter, Curatio International Foundation hosted two interns Lucia Callizo from Macalester college in Minnesota and Laura Covarrubias from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Interns made useful contribution to CIF ongoing research projects. As interns say, their experience at the Curatio International Foundation will help them foster their careers in international public health research. Here is the video where Laura and Lucia share their experience over…
Since the creation of the Global Fund, the world’s financing instrument in the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria the role of private foundations has significantly increased in contributing to funding, participation in its governance and to the strategy of the organization. The Global Fund partners with non-governmental organizations, Foundations and private companies in four major areas: Contributor of Resources, Grant Implementer, Advocacy and Services, and Pro Bono Goods and Services. Curatio International Foundation (CIF) is the key partner listed…
15 years anniversary publication spotlights some of the Curatio International Fondation’s (CIF) achievements in health system reform since 1994, thus shedding some light on the impact of CIF’s contributions, and to address the organization’s future aspirations. Published in December, 2009. View the full version.
During the last two decades Government of Georgia initiated series of reforms introducing major changes in health financing policy and restructuring the health system to reverse the negative trends observed in equity, affordability and quality of essential health service for significant part of the country population and particularly for the poor. Addressing problems in equity and financial protection against health care costs through re attainment of universal coverage for essential health care services for the entire population was one of…
Grant Management Solutions 2 Awarded to MSH Partnership: Up to Five More Years of Technical Support to Grantees of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria Cambridge, MA, October 16, 2012– Management Sciences for Health (MSH) takes pride in announcing that on September 30, 2012, it was awarded a contract by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to continue its project Grant Management Solutions (GMS) with 25 partners. The initial three-year term of the new contract may…
Curatio International Foundation has completed a study exploring ‘Price, Affordability and Availability of Medicines in Georgia’. The study was divided into three stages and carried out in 2009-2001. The key aim of the study is to improve affordability and availability of medicines for the population. Based on a three-year observation of pharmacies and different medicines in Georgia, Curatio International Foundation studied the practice in the pharmaceutical sector and came up with recommendations based on research findings. The recommendations will be…
Curatio International Foundation launches its internship program for 2012-2013 years and invites interns from around the world who are studying at masters or Ph.D. level and who are interested to have first-hand experience in the real-life setting and to contribute to the research projects implemented by the organization. Since 2002 CIF has hosted number of students from world's leading universities such as Johns Hopkins, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Yale etc. Timing of the Internships - Winter interns…
Curatio International Foundation named Ana Kasradze as the winner of its annual scholarship program. Ana is the master's program student at the Tbilisi State University, Department of International Public Health. Ana is actively involved in annual conferences and study visits helping her professional and academic growth. In 2011 she participated in online certificate program on Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Florida. Currently, Ana Kasradze is employed at National Center for Disease Control and Public Health in the capacity…
During January-July 2010 Curatio International Foundation in collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and other partners started exploring the effects of Global Fund HIV programmes on the roles of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. The study attempt to assess CSO advocacy efforts to reform HIV/AIDS and drug related Policies in three former Soviet Union countries. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine by national researchers with representatives from a sample…
The study assesses the impact of Medical Health Insurance (MIP) for the Poor on equity in access to essential health care services and financial protection against health care costs for the poor and general population. The document briefly describes identified accomplishments and shortcomings of the public private partnership in realization of MIP and discusses emerging policy options and policy recommendations on the future of MIP. The study was financially and technically supported by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems…
The deadline for submission documentations for CIF web site is approaching to deadline, June 15. Master program students of Public Health Management or BA with focus on Public Health management from accredited universities in Georgia are encouraged to participate in the scholarship program for 2012-2013 years. Description is available in Georgian.
As the lead key informant to the policy brief on Medical Insurance for the Poor: impact on access and affordability of health services in Georgia says, the “health care in Georgia is currently affordable for very reach and very poor”. This conclusion grounds on the findings of the study that explored one of the most critical issues- affordability of health care services in Georgia. The matter is among top five most important national issues for a large part of the…
Use of Multi-Method Rapid Evaluation to Assess Complex Non-Communicable Condition in Low Income Countries At Geneva Health Forum 2012 Curatio International Foundation presented a study preliminary findings which looks at evaluation of health systems performance in low-resource settings with regard to diabetes management. With the use of multi-method rapid evaluation the authors assess complex non-communicable condition (diabetes) in five Former Soviet Union countries. The study seeks to identify core problems and pragmatic policy options will be developed to address these…
Curatio International Foundation presented two posters at Copenhagen 2012 Conference- HIV in Europe. One of the posters presented results of Bio-Behavioural surveys among Injecting Drug Users in five cities of Georgia in 2008-2009 and specifically explored Low testing uptake and their determinants among this high risk group in Georgia. Authors: Ivdity Chikovani, Ketevan Goguadze, Natia Rukhadze, George Gotsadze The poster was presented in the session - Lessons learned in the implementation of HIV testing strategies for IDUs. Another poster addressed…
Curatio International Foundation has contributed to publishing the paper that explores the factors enabling and undermining civil society efforts to advocate for policy reforms relating to HIV/AIDS and illicit drugs in three countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. The paper was published on the world’s leading scientific papers’ source Sciencedirect.com in the rubrics: Social Science and Medicine. The paper looks at political contexts and explores how the civil society actors’ strengths and weaknesses inhibit or…
In February 15, 2011 the Journal of International Aids Society Published the paper by CIF on Prevalence of HIV among injection drug users in Georgia. Georgia is categorized as a low-HIV-prevalence country. According to the national HIV registry data, there has been a sharp increase in newly diagnosed cases since 2004, with a steady increase since 2008. Annually, almost half of the newly diagnosed cases are revealed at the AIDS stage of disease. There is regional heterogeneity in HIV prevalence…
In August 2011, National Center for Biotechnology Information published CIF’s scientific paper on Unsafe injection and sexual risk behavior among injecting drug users in Georgia. The paper describes the prevalence and correlates of unsafe drug injecting and sexual behaviors among IDUs recruited across five cities in Georgia in 2009. IDUs were administered a questionnaire collecting information on demographics, drug use, sexual behaviors, and HIV testing behaviors. Correlates of risky injecting and sexual behaviors were determined using logistic regression. Of 1,127…
The project was implemented with financial support from Global Projects Implementation Center. The project “Behavioral Surveillance Survey with biomarker component on HIV/AIDS in high risk groups, identifying the number of injective drug users, operations survey” aimed at creating credible/valuable source of information which will serve as the evidence for planning national programs on HIV/AIDS and assessing national response. In terms of targeting HIV/AIDS risk groups the objectives of the project was as following: a) Conducting bio-behavioral surveillance surveys among high…
The present report unveils the findings of the study “Price, availability and affordability of medicines in Georgia” implemented over the course of three years- 2009-2011 in the capital Tbilisi and regional cities. The study was supported by the World Bank and the Open Society Institute. The survey looked at availability and price of Innovative Brands and their equivalent low price generics, analyzed collected data by type of medicine, regional differences as well as by type of pharmacy. The survey also looks at medicine…
The key aim of the study is to improve affordability and availability of medicines for the population. Based on a three-year observation of pharmacies and different medicines in Georgia, Curatio International Foundation studied the practice in the pharmaceutical sector and came up with recommendations based on research findings. The recommendations will be presented to the broad audience of the health sector – the Health Care Committee of Parliament, the Ministry of Health, the insurance sector and other interested parties. Giorgi…
The researcher of the Curatio International Foundation Natia Rukhadze presented the findings of Catastrophic Health Expenditure Analysis in Georgia at the “Seminar on Health Financing Reforms in Georgia” held in MoLHSA on October 26, 2011. The study was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and uses the data from nationally representative Integrated Household Survey (HIS) conducted by National Statistical Office (GEOSTAT) on an annual basis; Study looked at trends in household catastrophic health spending during 2006-2010 among different population…
Curatio International Foundation has contributed to the development of National Health Care Strategy 2011-2015: “Affordable and Quality Health Care”. Under the current strategy, the government intends to improve population health through a reduction of disease burden and mortality by 2015. In order to achieve these goals, the government of Georgia has drawn up five strategic objectives and defined 26 strategic initiatives which are expected to be implemented over the course of coming five year period. Over the past several months…
On October 26, 2011 the researcher of the Curatio International Foundation Natia Rukhadze presented the findings of Catastrophic Health Expenditure Analysis in Georgia at the “Seminar on Health Financing Reforms in Georgia” held in MoLHSA. The study was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and uses the data from nationally representative Integrated Household Survey (HIS) conducted by National Statistical Office (GEOSTAT) on an annual basis; Study looked at trends in household catastrophic health spending during 2006-2010 among different population…
By the end of summer 2011 Curatio International Foundation and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) developed the web resource which serves as a guideline for qualitative approaches in researching the health systems. Information of the web site is based on the experience of the study “Exploring providers' and patients' perspectives on barriers to quality of care for chronic heart failure (CHF) “. The study, in its turn, is a part of a project that explores transferability of…
The research article by CIF and international experts has been published in BMC International Health and Human Rights 2009. Article is a part of the supplement: The fallacy of coverage: uncovering disparities to improve immunization rates through evidence.The Canadian International Immunization Initiative Phase 2 (CIII2) Operational Research Grants. In the republic of Georgia, a country where widespread health care reforms have taken place over the last decade, an intervention was recently implemented to strengthen performance of immunization programs. A range…
Curatio International Foundation launches its internship program for 2011-2012 years and invites interns from around the world who are studying at masters or Ph.D. level and who are interested to have first-hand experience in the real-life setting and to contribute to the research projects implemented by the organization. Since 2002 CIF has hosted number of students from world's leading universities such as Johns Hopkins, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Yale etc. Timing of the Internships - Winter interns…
Georgia is among the countries with low HIV/AIDS prevalence but with a high potential for the development of a widespread epidemic. However, over the past several years while transmission through injecting drug use is still the prevailing route for HIV spread, the role of heterosexual transmission is increasing. According to the national HIV surveillance system, infections acquired through homosexual contact account for a small proportion of all HIV cases. Curatio International Foundation and Association Tanadgoma release a study report on…
In May, 2011 the winner of the CIF fellowship program was revealed. According to the decision of the experts committee the fellowship will be granted to Maia Khutsishvili, Master program student of the Tbilisi State Medical University. Over more than 15 years, Maia has been exposed to different aspects of healthcare field. From early nineties she has been working as a Medical Doctor (Pediatrician) in the leading hospitals of Georgia. In 2009 she joined one of the largest pharmaceutical companies…
In December 2010 CIF wrapped up the second stage of the study exploring “Price, availability and affordability of medicines in Georgia”. The study aimed at increasing awareness of civil society and improved access to medicines for the population through strengthening respective evidence. Field works during the first stage of the study were conducted in December 2009, while the second phase in July 2010. During the second phase the research covered four Georgian regions involving 146 pharmacies. The present report “Price,…
The present report “Price, availability and affordability of medicines in Georgia” attempted to obtain reliable data on these aspects and documents tendencies of change over the course of 6 month in 2010. The survey looked at availability and price of Innovative Brands and their equivalent low price generics, analyzed collected data by type of medicine, regional differences as well as by type of pharmacy. The survey also looks at medicine mark-ups and compares with mark-ups in European countries, measures…
Customer Satisfaction Research on Corporate Health Insurance aims to explore satisfaction of corporate clients of insurance companies and develops recommendations for further polishing and improvement of corporate insurance services. The research revealed that there is a high share/percent of not insured employees in corporate insurance schemes. Financial accessibility is one of the most noteworthy barriers for joining the insurance scheme. Not all citizens having the will to use insurance have a guaranteed opportunity to get corporate insurance. The study was…
Curatio International Foundation releases report on Customer Satisfaction Research on Corporate Health Insurance. The report was supported by International Health Budget Monitoring Initiative of the Open Society Institute. The research prepared by the three experts of CIF (Marine Egutia, Natia Rukhadze, Tamar Gotsadze) looks at trends of insurance market, shares of insurance types and customer satisfaction. Georgian insurance market is young, though the rapid growth is apparent. Data prompted by the National Bank of Georgia proved 33 percent growth in…
The presentation describes dynamic of health insurance development in Georgia, parameters of insurance and insurance systems and different policy choices/options the country faces in Health Insurance Field. The presentation also describes state financed and co-financed health insurance products. Author of the presentation: Devi Khechinashvili. Full version is available in English and in Georgian.
The presentation describes the importance of the pharmaceutical sector, factors conditioned development of the draft Bill on Changes and Amendments to the Georgian Law on Drugs and Pharmaceutical Activities, which has been passed by the Parliament of Georgia 10th of August, 2009 and became effective from October 15, 2009. The presentation also describes key concepts, recommendations rendered to the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs in 2007, including the information on which recommendations accepted and which of them ignored…
The report presents the Comparative Analysis of Georgia and Western Countries. This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development in the framework of the CoReform. The publication highlights factors deremining approaches to the regulation of health professionals, instruments used for regulating professional resources, factors influencing rules of licensing and authorization at national and international levels. Published in April 2008, Author: Vakhtang Megrelishvili. Read the full version.
Exploring providers' and patients' perspectives on barriers to quality of care for chronic heart failure (CHF) in Uzbekistan and Georgia In the framework of the project the qualitative study will be undertaken aiming at exploring barriers to quality of care for heart failure in two FSU states: Uzbekistan and Georgia. The project is funded by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR). Lead investigators are: Dr. Judith Green, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dr. Mohir Ahmedov,…
The aim of the study is to explore the effects of Global Fund HIV programmes on the roles of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. The study represents a follow-up to the Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives Network (GHIN) studies that examined the effects of Global HIV/AIDS initiatives on country health systems. Specifically the study will assess the effects of Global Fund programmes on the focus, aims and roles of CSOs; seek to understand how Global Fund HIV programmes…
Aim of the project was to identify deficiencies in children birth and death registration system and identify quality of child health care rendered by family medicine practitioners at primary health care level; The project was funded by the World Bank. Duration: May 2010 – May 2011. Project encompassed the following two components: Part I: Qualitative research to identify attitude, practice and barriers to effective collection of data related to child births and deaths registration. The data were collected in selected…
Global health initiatives like Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative (GAVI), Roll Back Malaria and Stop TB etc. are intended to support developing countries to effectively deal with specific diseases/conditions. In practice, the vertical nature of such financing is likely to have a variety of direct and indirect effects upon health care systems, both positive and negative. The size and the components of the grant, makes Global Fund the most significant player,…
The National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan in Georgia was developed by the national working group in the frame of the project funded by The Global Fund- "Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country". Download the document here.
From 2001 to 2006, the government of Georgia and the Partners for Health Reformplus (PHRplus) project collaborated to strengthen two components of the Georgia Health Information System (HIS): the immunization management information system (MIS) and infectious disease surveillance system (IDS). The work was funded by USAID/Caucasus and coordinated by a multidisciplinary expert group of stakeholders. Participating expert group members came from the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, the Department of Public Health, the National Center for Disease Control…
National Health Accounts (NHA) is an internationally recognized methodology for monitoring financial resource flows into the health sector from the various sources of funds to financial agents, and from financial agents to providers and functions. The NHA sub-analysis for reproductive health is presented to evaluate resources for reproductive health services within the overall NHA framework. The NHA reproductive health sub-analysis for Georgia was carried out by a team of experts from Curatio International Foundation, Abt. Associates Inc. and the National…
The purpose this document is to outline a strategy for the development of a Health Information System (HIS) in Georgia. The strategy is expected to be used by in-country stakeholders and international development partners to strengthen in a logical and practical way the Health Information Systems (HIS) bringing it up to international standards. If successful the HIS will contribute to evidence-based decision making in health policy area. The current work on the development of the strategic plan to strengthen HIS…
In May 2006, the USAID/Caucasus Mission awarded PATH $400,000 to strengthen surveillance, information, education, communication (IEC) activities, and procurement planning to address avian influenza (AI) in Georgia. As specified in the proposal, PATH has established a partnership with a Georgian nongovernmental organization, Curatio International Foundation (CIF), to implement this activity. View the document.
Policy Implications of the first Systematic Tracking of Financial Flows for HIV/AIDS in Ukraine is presentation delivered by the nine health care experts in Toronto in August 2006.The presentation looks at background information of HIV/AIDS like prevalance, HIV/Aids statistics, HIV/AIDS spending, finances sources, expenditures by functions, comparison with other countries in the scope of expenditures by functions etc. Authors of the presentation: Yuriy Chechulin, George Gotsadze,Catherine Chanfreau, Liudmila Husak,Vinay Saldanha, Anastasiya Nitsoy, Viktor Galayda,Manjiri Bhawalkar, Tania Dmytraczenko. View the full…
As a result of technical assistance provided by the CoReform project the Government of Georgia in 2007 introduced targeted (to poor) health care benefit program in two pilot regions (city of Tbilisi and Imereti region) of Georgia covering approximately 180,000 individuals below poverty line. This program is aimed at paying for health care insurance coverage that population obtains from private insurance companies on the market. During fall 2007, the GoG made decision and announced to public that it will gradually…
It is estimated that during 2009 up to 900 000 poor individual will be covered by the Program. Monthly Premium estimations done by CoReform/CIF hired actuaries in September 2008 have already submitted to the MoLHSA to inform 2009 State Budget allocations, namely: a) average premium 12.64 Gel per month per person that makes 151.68 Gel per person per annum; b) different premium coefficients estimated for the following scenarios: i) age and sex; ii) different age groups (age 0-49; age 50-74;…
The purpose of this document is to estimate the costs incurred by the government and donors on tuberculosis prevention and treatment in Georgia in 2001-2005. The document does not address private spending of the population on tuberculosis, since there is no reliable information (household surveys) presently available on private household expenditure on the treatment of the disease. Expenditures of the Georgian government and donors on tuberculosis treatment and its prevention in Georgia for the period 2001-2005 were calculated by Curatio…
Only 1/4 of Intravenous Drug Users are getting tested for HIV, putting their wife’s and girlfriends and the rest of the Georgian population at risk for a widening epidemic Curatio International Foundation, a Georgian think tank, says “motivating IDUS to get tested is the key to prevention.” According to a recent study by Curatio International Foundation and Public Union Bemoni, the Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) can put their regular sex partners at risk of HIV infection by having unprotected sex…
The research article prepared by the international experts and representatives of Curatio International Foundation was published in the international journal Globalization and Health web site. The article is available at US National Library of Medicine as well. The paper identifies residual national and subnational obstacles to effective coordination and optimal use of funds by focal GHIs, which these GHIs, other donors and country partners need to collectively address. Follow the link to view the abstract and the full version of…
Curatio International Foundation has provided Assessment of HIV/AIDS surveillance system pilot. The operations research of HIV/AIDS surveillance pilot in Georgia was conducted in the framework of the project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” funded by the Global Fund, as a preparatory stage for revision of HIV/AIDS surveillance national guidelines. The operations research aims to assess the performance of a new design of HIV/AIDS routine and sentinel surveillance system, developed…
Curatio International Foundation in collaboration with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Public Union Bemoni and association Tanadgoma has carried out Behavior Surveillance Surveys with biomarker component among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs), and Prisoners. As a result of endeavor 1100 IDUs from capital Tbilisi plus 4 regional cities, 210 prisoners, and 280 CSWs have been interviewed. The project is funded by the Global Fund and implemented by the Curatio International Foundation in partnership…
Throughout 2 weeks Curatio International Foundation will be hosting interns from Public Health School at John Hopkins University Sudit Ranade and Mollie Werlieb. Having the opportunity to undertake internship at Curatio International Foundation for the first ever time, students are challenged and motivated to help the organization in analyzing the data from the Bio Behavioral Surveillance Survey for injection drug users and write the article for scientific journal submission. Mollie Werlieb has an extensive NGO experience both in US and…
High quality research evidence is one of the critical preconditions for employing the evidence by policy makers into policy making. However, high quality research evidence itself is not sufficient; it must be communicated in ways that make it compelling. On February 5-6 alliance of Georgian NGOs attended the training in designing policy briefs. The course took place in the framework of the Strengthening Capacity of Civil Society for Promoting Research Evidence into Policy Development in Georgia and was led by…
On January 28-30, Ms. Keti Goguadze and Ms. Ivdity Chikovani, Project Managers at Curatio International Foundation presented Spot lights of Georgia Health Information System Strengthening at 2010 Global Health Information Forum in Bangkok, Thailand. The Global Health Information Forum, hosted by Health Metrics Network (HMN) and the Prince Mahidol Award Conference, with the support of the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation and other partners brought together a range of experts, governments, donor agencies and organizations with…
Through implementing the project: Strengthening Capacity of Civil Society for Promoting Research Evidence into Policy Development in Georgia, Curatio International Foundation aims to improve the skills of civil society representatives in developing policies that are a) evidence informed b) tailored to Georgia’s social, economic and cultural context, and c) responsive to public interest. CIF intends to contribute to achieving this goal by allying two distinct networks of NGOs (The coalition of Georgian NGOs for “Transparency of Public Finance” and Georgian…
Health Systems 20/20 (HS 20/20), was a five-year (2006-2011) cooperative agreement, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It offered help to the USAID-supported countries in solving problems in health governance, finance, operations, and capacity building. By working on these dimensions of strengthening health systems, the project helped people in developing countries, to gain access to the population, health, and nutrition (PHN) services. Health financing, governance and operations initiatives were integrated in Health System 20/20. This integrated approach was focused on…
Curatio International Foundation unveiled the most successful Public Health Management Student on its 15th Years anniversary marking event. On December 18, Curatio International Foundation granted the first student of the fellowship program established on the occasion of its 15th anniversary. The lucky student is Ledi Bichikashvili, Public Health Management faculty student at the Tbilisi State Medical University. Over 100 guests representing donor organizations, public and private sector, and partners of CIF celebrated successful 15 years together at the Radisson Sas…
On December 16th Curatio International Foundation in partnership with UK-Georgia professional Network (UGPN) hosted policy club discussion on Mental Health policy issues. The meeting focused on development of recommendations for the improvement of the existing mental health service provision system in the country, specifically, how services should be organized on a primary health care level, in hospitals and shelters. The policy club discussion was organized in the framework of the “Strengthening Civil Society Capacity to Promote Research Evidence for Policy…
Advent of the far reaching reforms era in Georgia surged a great demand in cross-sectoral collaboration between the government, civil society and the media to ensure production of high quality evidence and increased demand for evidence informed public policy formulation. As a continuous effort to improving capacities of NGOs on providing evidence in policy making process, Curatio International Foundation organized the gathering of 20 executives from leading local non-governmental organizations on Bazaleti, Georgia.The meeting became possible in the framework of…
Curatio International Foundation in partnership with UK-Georgia professional Network (UGPN) conducted policy club discussion to increase awareness of the civil society organization regarding the Bill on Changes and Amendments to the Georgian Law on Drugs and Pharmaceutical Activities, which has been passed by the Parliament of Georgia 10th of August, 2009 and is effective from October 15, 2009. The draft Bill has been developed with the technical support of the CIF consultants under the auspices of the USAID funded CoReform…
The presentation describes preconditions of the hospital sector reforms, its sequence and key motivations. The presentation also describes hospital sector privatization program and its status. The presentation has been prepared in the framework of the CoReform project. Author of the presentation: Keti Tatoshvili. The full version is available in English and in Georgian.
Are you a successful last year bachelor student of healthcare/public health management? If yes, you are posed a golden opportunity to be granted the fellowship worth around 250 GEL monthly. From 2009 CIF will start awarding fellowships to the most successful students of Healthcare organization/Public Health Management who are awaiting bachelor’s diploma from accredited Georgian universities. At the beginning the project will be piloted in the capital Tbilisi. CIF will grant 250 GEL monthly to one of the most successful…
Today, July 24th the CIF under the auspices of the USAID funded CoReform project hosted the award ceremony dedicated to the completion of the first stage of the training course on Classifications for Hospital, Ambulatory and Laboratory interventions. 30 Master Trainers from Primary Health Care Centers upon the training completion were honored to be awarded with special certificates in International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC 2) by Alexander Kvitashvili, the Minister of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs. Today’s closing event…
HMN takes the initiative to publish HIS strategic plan produced by Curatio International Foundation on its website. The first baseline assessment of HIS was carried out in 2006 in East Georgia by Curatio International Foundation. It applied the HMN (Health Metrics Network) Framework as a guide and HMN Health Information System Situation Analysis Tool. The assessment results provided strong foundation to building a more comprehensive HIS development plan, which has been realized in the strategic plan.Development of Strategic Plan for…
More than 20 executives from leading local and international non-governmental organizations in public policy formulation have successfully completed training workshop on ”Evidence Informed Policy”, on July 31-August 3, 2009 in Ureki, Georgia. The training workshop in Ureki was the first among a series of interventions under the recently launched project “Strengthening Civil Society Capacity to Promote Research Evidence for Policy Development in Georgia” ing at building the skills of civil society organizations on providing evidence in policy making process. The project…
Curatio International Foundation in collaboration with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Public Union Bemoni has carried out Behavior Surveillance Surveys with biomarker component among intravenous drug users (IDUs). The activity covered 5 Georgian regions -Tbilisi, Batumi, Gori, Zugdidi, Telavi. The effort became possible in the framework of the project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” funded by the Global Fund. The survey was conducted using RDS…
The country case summary displayed on GHIN website was prepared as part of the academic consortium of the WHO Maximizing Positive Synergies between health systems and GHIs initiative. The study assesses the effects of the Global Fund funding on the health system in Georgia. It focuses on the policy environment, public-private interactions, human resources and access to HIV/AIDS services. The effects of Global Fund funding on Georgia’s health system were assessed in a two phase study conducted during 2004-2008. The…
Curatio International Foundation together with Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center and Association Tanadgoma carried out Behavior Surveillance Survey with biomarker component among CSWs. The survey targeted the capital Tbilisi and regional city Batumi, sampling 280 individuals. The study was conducted using TLS methodology and went through face-to-face interviews followed by blood testing. The activity was carried out in the framework of the Global Fund project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance…
In the framework of the Global Fund project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” Curatio International Foundation has launched 2 sentinel surveillance sites at STI clinics. In March 2009 two surveillance sites were established at STI Clinics in Tbilisi and Batumi. The effort representing one of the components of the Global Fund project “Establishment of evidence-base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” aimed…
Curatio International Foundation is a member of Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives Network (GHIN). As a part of the WHO Maximizing Positive Synergies publication "Interactions between Global Health Initiatives and Health Systems: Evidence from countries" Georgia Case study "System-wide effects of the Global Fund on Georgia's health care systems" was prepared by highly qualified experts of the Curatio International Foundation. The Global HIV/AIDS Initiatives Network (GHIN) is a network of researchers in 21 countries Georgia being one of them in the face…
By the decision of the Global Fund 19-th board meeting Mr.George Gotsadze, the Director of Curatio International Foundation was appointed as a Permanent Member of the Technical Review Panel (TRP). On May 5-6, 2009 at the Global Fund 19-th board meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland the decision upon appointment of Dr. George Gotsadze as a permanent member of the Technical Review Panel (TRP) was made. Mr. Gotsadze will serve as a member up to four rounds commencing from round 9.…
On April 28,2009 the research article on Household Catastrophic Health Expenditure-evidence from Georgia and its policy implications was published on the online scientific journal BMC Health Services Research. The research undertaken by the highly qualified experts of Curatio International Foundation was funded by the organization itself. The study was based on the data of the Health Care Utilization and Expenditure survey conducted during May-June 2007 prior to preparing for new phase of implementation for the health care financing reforms. It…
On March 5, 2009 the CIF, in the framework of USAID funded CoReform project organized the workshop on Classifications for Hospital and Laboratory intervention. On March 5, 2009 the workshop on Classifications for Hospital, Ambulatory and Laboratory interventions was held. Over 23 participants representing MOLSHA, Health and Social Programs Agency (HeSPA), Georgian Insurance Association (GIA), Social Services Agency, private insurance companies and USAID along with other members of the project attended the workshop. Event participants were presented and handed-over those…
In 2004 with the financial aid of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in the Caucasus, the project "Cooperation in Heath System Transformation Project" commenced. The project was completed in September 2009. The project provided technical assistance to the Government of Georgia (GoG) to strengthen its capacity to transform the health system of the country into a more efficient, accountable, and transparent one. With the cooperation of the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs (MoLHSA), Abt Associates…
On December 24, 2008 the first phase of the project “Establishment of evidence base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening of HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the country” was closed by the National Conference. The event highlighted crowning achievements of the project and aimed at presenting National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Plan, Electronic Management Information System and all activities implemented on the path of project implementation period. The convention hosted the Minister of Health, Labor and Social Affairs, Head of the Health and…
Trainings on Mental Health Financing conducted with the financial support of Adam Smith Foundation end successfully. 25 representatives from Mental Health NGOs, Association of psychiatrics, psychiatric coalition, ombudsmen office and media enjoyed an opportunity of gaining sound understanding of conceptual model of mental health financing. On June 9 the conclusive meeting following the series of trainings on Mental Health Financing was held. It summed up the experience gained during the training course by the participants, appraising effectiveness of the course,…
On March 31, 2008 a stakeholder workshop to introduce project goal and objectives, project components, main activities and project time-frame was held at the Hotel “Ambasadori”. The workshop was organized in the framework of the project “Establishment of evidence base for HIV/AIDS national program, by strengthening surveillance system”, funded by the Global Fund and implemented by Curatio International Foundation in partnership with Georgian Infectious diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center, Public Union “Bemoni” and association “Tanadgoma”.
Curatio International Foundation was contracted for consulting services in the following three areas of operation and grant management support:diagnostic and remedial action planning in Global Fund grant countries facing implementation challenges;governance and oversight processes for Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs); analysis and documentation of case studies of innovative country partnerships that provide examples of best emerging practices or offer models to share among partners. The purpose of these Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQCs) is to establish a mechanism through which the Secretariat…
On February 12, 2008 a stakeholder workshop to discuss an Integrated Model and Strategic Plan for the Health Information System development in Georgia was held at the Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoLHSA). The workshop was organized in the framework of the Health Metrics Network project implemented by CIF in collaboration with the MoLHSA. The workshop was attended by the senior level policymakers, stakeholders from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, the Health…
On January 23-24, 2008 a Regional Workshop entitled “Rotavirus and Diarrheal Disease Control” was held in Tbilisi, Georgia. The workshop with 50 participants was sponsored by PATH and hosted by Curatio International Foundation. The workshop brought together representatives from Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EE/CA) countries, WHO, UNICEF, GAVI experts with aim to share the current evidence, and determine the level of interest, main needs/key priorities and concerns of the stakeholders. Several countries in EE/CA struggle with high rates of…
The project funded by the Alliance for Health Policy and System Research (HPSR) was implemented in February 2006- 2008 by Curatio International Foundation. The proposed study is a continuation of the baseline research carried out in Georgia during 2004 in accordance with SWEF study protocol on GFATM impact on a national health system. The proposed study applied to the already developed study protocol and instruments. It helped evaluate GFATM impact on Georgia’s health system by looking at: Policy processes; Human…
The project was implemented in the period of October 2007- December 2008 in partnership with National Center for Disease Control and Medical Statistics (NCDC), Ministry of Labour, Health, and Social Affairs (MoLHSA), and Pediatric Division of Tbilisi State Medical University, and with the financial support of PATH. The project aimed at enhancing Diarrhea Disease (EDD) Control Initiative in Georgia and carrying out activities in support of countries in the EE/CA region to implement their national diarrheal disease control plans. Several…
In 2007 two editions of the guideline were published within the framework of the project Strengthening Surveillance, IEC and Procurement Planning to address Avian Influenza in Georgia. The guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations addressed to the Georgian health system workers on how to promptly identify report, confirm, and classify potential cases of avian influenza in humans; analyze data; investigate and respond to the cases and outbreaks; improve other aspects of early warning system for humans. These guidelines are the most appropriate…
Dr. George Gotsadze, Director of the Curatio International Foundation was invited to present findings at PATH about the human health story of the dissolution of Soviet Union, the political and socio-economic transition that has challenged a weak health care system, and the efforts to overcome these obstacles. The event took place at PATH headquarters, Seattle, USA, December 10, 2007. See presentation.
Natia Rukhadze, presented preliminary research findings of the study “Effects of GFATM on Georgia’s Health System Development” to the global stakeholders. The selected topic for the presentation was “Sustainability of GFATM program supported activities in Georgia”. The workshop, which was held from 19-23 November 2007 was organized by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and hosted by the RCSI in Dublin. GHIN is a network of researchers in…
Dr. George Gotsadze has participated in the fifth Global NHA symposium hosted in Lund, Sweden. July 8-11, 2007 The Fifth Global NHA symposium was a two-day workshop, arranged by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics (IHE) in collaboration with the Swedish international development cooperation agency (Sida) and the United States agency for international development (USAID). The program included training and information sessions regarding the production of NHA as well as benefits and policy implications of using the tool to inform…
The Health Utilisation and Expenditure Survey (HUES) was conducted in May/June 2007 and consisted of a nationally representative sample of 3,218 households. The objectives of the survey were: to estimate household health expenditure and compare this with the Integrated Household Survey (IHS) estimates to provide adjustment factors; to provide information on reported health status, use of services and user satisfaction; and to provide a baseline for reforms in primary health care and sector financing, both nationally and for specific ‘pilot’…
Yale University announced the selection of the leading Georgian health policy advisor, Ketevan Chkhatarashvili, the president of Curatio International Foundation, an organization which is a pioneer of health care reform throughout the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, as a 2007 Yale World Fellow. The Yale World Fellows Program represents a unique initiative among U.S. universities and a core element of Yale’s commitment to be a leading global university. Aiming to build a worldwide network of emerging leaders and…
Dr. George Gotsadze, Director of Curatio International Foundation, traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan during May 16-18, 2007. Dr. Gotsadze was invited within the frame of Primary Health Care (PHC) Strengthening Project in Azerbaijan to contribute to the introductory workshop on National Health Accounts (NHA) organized for the national team in Azerbaijan. Dr. Gotsadze gave presentation on using NHA data for informing the national policy making process and presented the Georgian experience on introduction and institutionalization of NHA. See the presentation 1.…
CIF consultant, Ketevan Goguadze in April 1-7, 2007 traveled to Armenia. The major purpose of the visit was to provide technical support to the Armenian national working group in order to estimate the costs of the current immunization program; evaluate the financing of the current programme; project resource for the future requirements and financing levels and patterns over the cMYP time period; estimate financing gaps, prepare alternative scenarios of cMYP costing and financing components to reduce the funding gaps and…
On February 23, 2007 the policy club has been organized within the framework of CoReform Project with the aim to discuss organizational arrangement of the Public Health at local level. It has brought together Deputy Ministers MOLHSA, representatives of Sector Policy Planning Department, Head of the Regulatory Department, Head of the Health Care Department, Director of the National Centre for Disease Control and Medical Statistics, Head of the Public Health Department, Head of the Juridical Department, State Minister Office of…
Primary Health Care Strengthening Project was implemented during the period of September 2005- September 2007 by a consortium of organizations led by International Medical Corps (IMC) in cooperation with Abt Associates Inc., Curatio International Foundation, and the John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Communication Programs. The PHC Strengthening Project provided technical assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan (GoAZ) in a collaborative effort to strengthen the country's primary healthcare system. The project consisted of four components: Creating…
The project was funded by USAID/Caucasus and implemented by Curatio International Foundation (CIF) and Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) in June 2006-April 2007. The key partners were: Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, DPH, NCDC, WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, DTRA, HHS/CDC, MoA, AgVantage. The aim of the project was to assist the Government of Georgia with well-coordinated approach on surveillance, IEC and procurement that would strengthen early warning systems, outbreak investigation, and effective response to a possible…
Community Based Health Insurance Project was funded by Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) and was implemented by Curatio International Foundation (CIF) during the period of September 2003 - September 2007. The objective of the project was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of community based health insurance (CBHI) schemes implemented by the selected communities in Georgia. More specifically, the project aimed to: Improve access to health services and provide financial protection for poor and vulnerable groups through increased community participation;…
CIF consultant George Gotsadze was invited by the country office of UNAIDS Ukraine to support the reconstruction of the management component of the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Control Project, financed with the loan proceeds from the World Bank. The project has been suspended by the World Bank since April 2006 due to the slow implementation of the project. Three conditions were recommended by the World Bank to the Government for the continuation of the project. The Government had met required conditions…
The project of Feasibility Assessment for Introduction of the Community Based Health Financing (CBHF) was funded by Egyptian Social Fund for Development (SFD) and implemented by Curatio International Foundation during the period of September 2005- May 2006. The objective of this mission was to provide technical assistance to the SFD in evaluation of feasibility of CBHF in the selected Egyptian communities and, if CBHF proved feasible, cooperate with the government authorities in developing an action plan for CBHF implementation. Consultants…
Georgia Health Information and Disease Surveillance Reform project was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Aid/ Caucasus (USAID) and was implemented in partnership with Partners for Health Reform Plus (PHRplus) Project and Curatio International Foundation. The objective of the project was to strengthen Immunization Management Information System (MIS) and Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Surveillance. The project ran from January 2002 until September 2006. The project was designed and implemented in coordination with principal stakeholders from the Interagency Coordinating Committee…
Healthy Women in Georgia (HWG) project was funded by U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute Inc. in collaboration with Curatio International Foundation, Save the Children, Orthos. The duration of the project was September 2003 - July 2006. The objective of the project was to improve women’s health in Georgia. The HWG Program targeted selected facilities in the Imereti region at regional and district levels, and ten ambulatories at the primary health care…
The project was funded by Cida/IDRC (Canadian International Development Centre; The International Development Research Centre) and implemented by Curatio International Foundation in collaboration with Toronto University. The duration of the project was July 2004 - March 2006. The study objective was to document the effects of "supportive supervision” on the performance of the immunization program at the district level in Georgia. The intervention package included: development of supervisory guidelines, district-level training, continuous supervision and support, monitoring and evaluation, and funding…
The project of Feasibility Assessment for Introduction of the Community Based Health Financing (CBHF) was funded by Egyptian Social Fund for Development (SFD) and implemented by Curatio International Foundation during the period of September 2005- May 2006. The objective of this mission was to provide technical assistance to the SFD in evaluation of feasibility of CBHF in the selected Egyptian communities and, if CBHF proved feasible, cooperate with the government authorities in developing an action plan for CBHF implementation. Consultants…
The Health System Resource Centre (HSRC) provides access to technical assistance, knowledge, and information in support of pro-poor health policies, financing, and services, for the Department for International Development of UK and its international and national partners. The duration of the project was 2002 - 2005. HSRC services are delivered by an international consortium of seven partner organizations, bringing together a wealth of research and operational expertise in national and international health policy issues and system development: Aga Khan Health…
The Community Investment Program - East was funded by BP/Mercy Corps, and implemented in partnership with Mercy Corps., Elkana, TAG, Constanta and Curatio International Foundation (CIF) in March 2003- December 2005. In the frame of this project, CIF was responsible for conducting the trainings of PHC staff available in village ambulatories (Doctors and nurses) on different health issues, including Antenatal Care, Immunization, Chronic diseases prevention, Geriatric disorders, etc.
The Community Investment Program - West was funded by BP/CARE Int. and implemented in partnership with CARE Int., ICCN, TAG, Constanta, and Curatio International Foundation (CIF) in the period of March 2003- December 2005. In the frame of this project, CIF was responsible for conducting the trainings of PHC staff available in village ambulatories (Doctors and nurses) on different health issues, including Antenatal Care, Immunization, Chronic diseases prevention, Geriatric disorders, etc. CIF conducted trainings for community members on First Aid…
Imperial College Consultants (Central Asia HIV/AIDS mapping study April-June 2004), together with the Curatio International Foundation, have designed and managed implementation of the Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan) HIV/AIDS mapping study, which looked at the spread and the overlap of four epidemics (HIV, STI, TB and Drug Use). The study detected critical regional drivers for the epidemic spread that require regional response. The findings were used to advocate Central Asian governments for the regional HIV/AIDS control project.
Community Based Health Financing (CBHF) project was implemented by Curatio International Foundation (CIF) through the Sub-Grant Agreement No: RFA-GC6-001-DT under the West Georgia Community Mobilization Initiative Project, which was administered by the Care International in Caucasus and was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). CIF started project implementation in August 2003 and completed it by August 2004, in accordance with the proposed implementation schedule. The main goal of the CBHF project was to decrease the financial…
The project Safe Motherhood Initiative was funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Management Science for Health (MSH) in partnership with Curatio International Foundation, Program for Appropriate Technology (PATH), and Emory University. The duration of the project was September 2000 - January 2003. The Project consisted of four components: Management and Information system development; community mobilization and provider-client interactions; enhancement of maternal and perinatal clinical performance; STD/Anemia prevalence study. In the frame of Safe Motherhood Initiative…
Safe Motherhood InitiativeSafe Motherhood Initiative Georgia Safe Motherhood Initiative (SMI) project was funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in partnership with Curatio International Foundation, Program for Appropriate Technology (PATH), and Emory University. The duration of the project was September 2000 - January 2003. The purpose of the SMI activity was to improve maternal and infant health in Georgia through strengthening of integrated maternal and perinatal health services. The project assessed…
The project was funded by UK Department for International Development (DFID) and implemented by Institute for Health Sector Development (IHSD) in partnership with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Curatio International Foundation (CIF), National Health Management Center (NHMC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The project began in March 2000 and was completed in 2003. This project was designed to strengthen the ability of the public health system in Georgia to respond to widespread poverty in the country…
The publication aims to analyze hospital financing and delivery of inpatient services, financial requirements of the hospitals, and their ability to meet these determinant requirements. There were different types of methods used during this work. By means of standardized questionnaire data on financial performance of 41 hospitals were collected. Patient survey, group discussions with hospital administrators, and interviews with policy-makers were also used. As a result it appeared that thirty-three hospitals were unable to recover full costs, and 29 were…
This paper aims to contribute to the assessment of the impact of health sector reforms in Georgia. It mainly focuses on changes in the patterns of health services utilization in rural areas of the country as a function of implemented changes in healthcare financing on a primary health care (PHC) level. Our findings are based on a household survey, which was carried out during summer 2002. Conclusions derived from the findings could be of interest to policy makers in transitional…
The project was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and implemented by Curatio International Foundation (CIF) in collaboration with National Health Management Center of Georgia (NHMC), Tbilisi State Medical University, Department of Public Health and Management of Georgia (DPHM), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom. The project started in December 2000 and lasted for 30 months. In summer 2000, CIF responded to the Call for Proposals announced by the Rockefeller Foundation under the worldwide initiative entitled “Stimulating…
The project was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and implemented by Curatio International Foundation (CIF) in collaboration with National Health Management Center of Georgia (NHMC), Tbilisi State Medical University, Department of Public Health and Management of Georgia (DPHM), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom. The project started in December 2000 and lasted for 30 months. In summer 2000, CIF responded to the Call for Proposals announced by the Rockefeller Foundation under the worldwide initiative entitled “Stimulating…
Development of Hospital Master Plan for Georgia project started in July 1998 and ended in January 1999. The project was funded by the World Bank through prime contract with Kaiser Permanente International (USA). Curatio International Foundation managed and administered all operations in Georgia, managed local and international consultants, and provided technical input for the project implementation. The project aimed to evaluate the hospital sector and health needs of the Georgian population all over the country and design the hospital master…
The Hospital Financing in Georgia Problems & Solutions project was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through prime contract with Abt. Associates Inc. The project aimed to evaluate financing of the hospital sector in Georgia in order to propose policy recommendations for the sector. In the duration of February 1998- March 1999, Curatio International Foundation (CIF), with technical guidance received from Abt. Associates, designed the evaluation methodology and tools, carried out evaluation and analysis, and developed a…
Since the restoration of independence, Georgia has initiated quite a number of reforms. Some have been quite successful. The majority, though, have created an additional burden on the population. There are number of conditions that determine the success of these reforms. The most important could be the desire to change. Both the government and the population must feel the need change. The document looks at health system before and after 1991. Describes legal base and its concept, organization and financing.…
The overall goal of the assessment was to promote a development of the national policy on family planning in Georgia through provision of updated and reliable information about the family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) in the country. A panel of experts and a task force was created composing of top specialists in FP/RH in order to elaborate major FP/RH indicators, to design a survey, to develop a questionnaire and to analyze the obtained data. The survey covered 9 regions of Georgia.…