Georgia’s Ministry of Health says the state universal healthcare program has been expanded to fully finance the expensive drug “Jakavi” (ruxolitinib) for patients suffering from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious complication after bone marrow transplantation.
The ministry says Georgian citizens undergo bone marrow transplants both domestically and abroad, and some patients later develop GVHD, a condition in which donor immune cells attack the recipient’s body. It says modern high-tech treatment is critical in such cases, especially when standard hormonal therapy is no longer effective.
International clinical guidelines identify ruxolitinib as one of the most effective treatments for managing GVHD, the ministry states.
It added that the state will now fully finance Jakavi for all GVHD patients, significantly expanding access to treatment and easing financial pressure on families.
The ministry also said the state-purchased drug Jakavi will now be available to all patients with oncohematological diagnoses, including children under 18.
Officials said the changes are expected to improve access to high-quality treatment and strengthen the country’s universal healthcare coverage.
