In the near future, current building will undergo dismantling to pave the way for setting of the new, multi-disciplinary medical center. Such a statement released the Ministry of Health.

“A new state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary clinic offering comprehensive healthcare services will be launched on the basis of the Central University Clinic. Adhering to international standards medical facility will feature over 500 beds, an ambulatory and a day hospital equipped with more than 100 beds will be set.

The clinic will house children’s oncology-hematology center, a central blood bank adhering to modern standards will be launched. The facility will include a pharmacy meeting GDP standards, designated training areas, a medical library, telemedicine spaces and various other amenities within its premises. As a result of these modifications, the Republican Hospital [RH] will meet the international standards that become mandatory for all clinics enrolled in State Universal Healthcare Program from 2025.

In the near future, the current building will undergo dismantling to pave the way for setting of the new, multi-disciplinary medical center. This decision stems from recognition of existing significant challenges and issues confronting the clinic, further supported by five independent expert opinions.

Particularly, the assessment conducted by Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau [LSNFB] in 2018 revealed that only the columns of the existing framework of the treatment block meet the standards of current seismic regulations. According to 2022 report of LSNFB, the glazed exterior façade of the building is evaluated as severely dilapidated.

“Technical condition of glazed exterior facades of the main high-rise treatment block can be evaluated as severely dilapidated. Their operation in current conditions is inadmissible and they are subject to immediate dismantling”, - says the conclusion.

In August 2023, a report titled “Modern Hospital Needs” was prepared by an international expert specializing in health infrastructure planning. The report’s objective is to define the technical prerequisites for main departments and functions of hospitals, aligning them with international standards. The current building of RH falls short of meeting the criteria outlined in the aforementioned document.

In September 2023, LSNFB released a conclusion regarding the feasibility of undertaking extensive construction and reconstruction works. The document highlights that reconstruction of “Academician Nikoloz Kipshidze,

“Central University Clinic” LLC building, along with execution of extensive construction and reconstruction works to align it with the components of modern hospital, is deemed economically unviable, and in certain instances impossible, due to construction scheme of the building. In 2023, the Emergency Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted an assessment of the adherence of the clinic to fire safety regulations. The inspection revealed 62 instances of non-compliance with prescribed norms.

It is noteworthy that European Investment Bank (EIB) is studying the existing conditions in the building and the clinic of the Republican Hospital. The organization is also conducting a comprehensive technical-economic review of the project, encompassing study of financial, environmental, market, service demand-supply, compliance with standards and other aspects.

In expert conclusions, in addition to mentioned infrastructural issues, the scarcity of clinic services, non-compliance with standards, clinical and financial challenges continue to pose significant hurdles.

The safety of the employees of the clinic remains a challenge. The building of the RH was damaged due to strong wind. The windows were broken, with debris fallen onto the hospital grounds. The Labour Inspection Service [LIS] and Regulation Agency conducted a safety assessment of patients and employees within the building. The investigation report of the LIS reveals that the construction elements are constantly falling from severely dilapidated and damaged façade within the inner yard of the clinic and along the outer perimeter, causing potential risk of damaging employees, patients and visitors. According to the decision of LIS, hazardous zones were closed and movement within the clinic’s premises was restricted”, - reads the statement.