Giorgi Ramishvili, Head of Healthcare Development at PSP Group, stated that pharmacy chains in Georgia do not create artificial shortages of medicines. He also addressed the issue during a session of a parliamentary commission. Ramishvili dismissed concerns about deliberate supply restrictions, saying that the idea of intentionally withholding medicines from sale is unrealistic and counter to business logic.
He noted, however, that challenges may arise with medicines that serve a very limited number of patients. In such cases, closer coordination with the Ministry of Health of Georgia could help ensure availability through tailored regulatory mechanisms.
Ramishvili stated that special registration pathways and import procedures could be introduced to facilitate access to these niche medicines without disrupting the broader market.
Responding to questions about potential policy solutions, Ramishvili confirmed that creating a dedicated ‘basket’ of specialized medicines is a viable option. Such a system could streamline registration requirements for manufacturers and support parallel imports, improving patient access while maintaining market stability.
The issue of medicine availability remains part of broader healthcare policy discussions in Georgia, particularly in relation to pricing and regulation.
