ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS IN INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN THE STATE PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM IN GEORGIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52340/jecm.2026.02.19Keywords:
Assessment, Needs, Institutions, State Palliative Care Program, GeorgiaAbstract
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial, and spiritual problems. Nevertheless, the development and accessibility of palliative care services in Georgia remain significant challenges. The aim of the study was to evaluate the services, accessibility, clinical practices, staff education, and quality monitoring systems of institutions participating in the state palliative care program in Georgia in 2023.
Most palliative care services are concentrated in capital and several large regional centers, while in a number of regions such services are unavailable. The state program is predominantly focused on inpatient care, whereas outpatient and home-based services remain limited. Current reimbursement tariffs are insufficient to support comprehensive service delivery. Chronic pain management relies mainly on injectable form of morphine, while immediate release oral morphine is unavailable. The study also identified a need for improved education and continuous professional development in the field of palliative care. Services are largely limited to the involvement of physicians and nurses, with minimal implementation of a multidisciplinary approach. In addition, patient-reported outcome measures are rarely utilized within existing quality monitoring systems.
To improve the palliative care system in Georgia, it is essential to increase funding, expand regional and home-based services, strengthen multidisciplinary approach, ensure the availability of immediate-release oral morphine, enhance staff education and training, and implement patient-centered quality assessment tools in clinical practice.
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