In March 2025, the number of patients increased significantly at the Akhalgori district hospital. The increase in the flow of patients hindered the service of the Akhalgori medical institution. This situation once again highlights the serious shortcomings of medical services, which have even become a cause of confrontation between patients and medical personnel.

The main challenges in the Akhalgori medical institution are: the absence of specialized doctors (pediatricians, surgeons), limited access to essential medicines, the head nurse’s absence from work for a long time, which hinders the dispensing of medicines. In addition, the transportation of patients to the Tskhinvali medical facility is a challenge, which is caused by the poor sstate of vehicles and closure of roads.

According to reports, family members of patients admitted to the Akhalgori hospital often request that the patient be transferred to Tbilisi, however, due to the restrictions on movement and the decisions of the medical staff, they are recommended to be transferred to Tskhinvali. It is also worth noting that patients in need of emergency care take a long time to be transferred to Tskhinvali due to the poor condition of the ambulance, which increases the risk of acute complications for patients.

The case of a 4-year-old child was particularly worrying. The child was brought to the hospital with symptoms similar to an epileptic seizure. Doctors considered the drop in blood sugar levels to be caused by a virus in the child's body. Due to the absence of a pediatrician on site, he was provided with medical assistance only through telephone consultations with Tbilisi doctors. Due to the lack of a surgeon at the Akhalgori hospital, a patient was transferred to Tskhinvali, who lost three fingers during medical intervention.

The situation is particularly complicated by the head nurse’s absence from work for a long time, as she is the only person with access to the medicine storage. This circumstance causes tension among the medical staff, as they are forced to seek medicines in alternative ways.

The Democracy Research Center calls on the Georgian authorities to respond promptly and effectively to the situation in Akhalgori, the residents of which should have accessible and high-quality healthcare services. Accordingly, Tbilisi should consider the possibility of implementing additional programmes.