European Union and WHO deliver ventilators and protective equipment to COVID-19 hospitals in Georgia

On 17 February, the European Union, the World Health Organisation, the European Investment Bank and Georgian officials handed over 10 ventilators and 1,000 items of protective equipment for the treatment and care of patients with severe cases of COVID-19 to N. Kipshidze Central University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University (former Republican Hospital).

“This is a sign of the solidarity of the EU with Georgians, and part of the GEL 1.5 billion support we are providing to Georgia to overcome COVID-19,” said Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia, during the visit to the hospital. This is one of the highest levels of EU assistance per capita to any country in the world.

This shipment is a part of the large support provided jointly by the European Union and WHO through the Solidarity for Health Initiative, which has already provided substantial medical supplies across the region, including more than 1.8 million items of personal protective and medical equipment, such as isolation gowns, protective goggles, oxygen concentrators, medical masks, respirators delivered to Georgia. Also, a series of trainings for healthcare workers and awareness raising events for the general public related to COVID-19 have been conducted in Georgia as part of the initiative, which aims to ensure an effective response to the current COVID-19 crisis and strengthen overall preparedness capacities of health sector in Georgia. 

“The EIB has provided a €100 million loan to Georgia, guaranteed by the European Union, to support modernisation of seven major hospitals in the country and to cover the procurement of essential COVID-19 related equipment,” said Maciej Czura, Head of the EIB Regional Representation for the South Caucasus. “The loan is covering also procurement of vaccines and establishing an effective supply chain to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for COVID-19 patients. As a part of Team Europe, EIB provided €400 million of financing, guaranteed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development, to support the participation of low and middle income economies in COVAX Advance Market Commitment.”

The visit to the Central University Clinic comes a week after the announcement of a new EU-WHO initiative to support the effective roll out of vaccination in Georgia once vaccines arrive. 

Find out more

Press release

‘The vaccines will reach those that need them most’. EU and WHO to support the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Georgia

Solidarity for Health Initiative