New Paper: Breaking Barriers to Universal Health Coverage: Insights from Georgia’s Chronic Disease Medicine Program

CIF researchers Alisa Tsuladze, Akaki Zoidze, Nino Kotrikadze, and George Gotsadze, together with Janina Stauke, have published a new article in SSM – Health Systems. The paper, entitled “Breaking barriers to universal health coverage: Insights from Georgia’s Chronic Disease Medicine Program”, evaluates the program’s evolution, achievements, and remaining challenges, while offering strategies to strengthen financial protection and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Out-of-pocket (OOP) spending on medicines remains a key obstacle to UHC in many low- and middle-income countries, often driving households into poverty. In Georgia, pharmaceutical costs are a major cause of catastrophic health spending, disproportionately affecting the poorest.

Drawing on stakeholder interviews and secondary data analysis, the study finds that the Chronic Disease Medicine Program has significantly expanded benefits, broadened coverage, and removed reimbursement limits—contributing to greater access and uptake. However, important challenges persist, including inequitable access, insufficient patient-centered care, limited public awareness, and low involvement of primary healthcare providers.

The authors highlight the importance of strengthening governance, expanding benefits for vulnerable groups, empowering PHC providers, and investing in awareness campaigns. The findings provide actionable lessons for other LMICs designing pharmaceutical benefit programs to reduce OOP spending and move closer to UHC.

The research was conducted by the Curatio International Foundation.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100129
Read the full paper here.

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