The COVID-19 pandemic exposed both the strengths and weaknesses of Georgia’s health system, emphasizing the vital role of rural physicians and the need to enhance their capacity. It also highlighted the potential of digital technologies to improve access to healthcare, especially in remote areas, and reduce disparities in medical services. Recognizing these lessons, Georgia began to explore telemedicine as a long-term solution for equitable healthcare delivery.
In September 2021, Georgia launched a three-year telehealth initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by four UN agencies—WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and UNOPS—to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 through digital solutions. Initial assessments under the project recommended strengthening health information systems, focusing on governance, data quality, and digitalization. The initiative aimed to create locally relevant care pathways and protocols for remote consultations in key areas such as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), maternal health, and early childhood development. WHO designed a telemedicine model tailored to Georgia’s needs to expand access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach regions.
A major success of the project has been the equipping of 60 rural primary care clinics with advanced digital medical equipment, including electrocardiographs and diagnostic tools for eye, ear, and skin examinations. Alongside new technology, rural doctors received comprehensive training covering both technical skills and updated medical practices, focusing on NCD management, communication, and ethics. The WHO-accredited training program strengthened doctors’ confidence and professional development, helping ensure the sustainability of telemedicine services within Georgia’s national health system.
For patients in these 60 pilot villages, the initiative has dramatically improved access to healthcare. Residents can now consult specialized doctors—such as cardiologists, dermatologists, and ophthalmologists—remotely through local clinics. This has enabled earlier diagnosis of serious conditions and reduced the need for long-distance travel. Family doctors, empowered by technology and training, have taken leadership roles in expanding telemedicine’s reach across neighboring communities, building trust and improving health outcomes.
Behind these achievements, WHO and its partners worked to embed telemedicine into Georgia’s health framework. This included developing regulatory and financial structures, revising health information systems, creating national digital health strategies, and setting standards for telemedicine service delivery. The project also strengthened public health monitoring and data management capacities, ensuring that digital health tools could support disease surveillance and emergency response.
Today, Georgia’s telemedicine program stands as a model for integrating digital health into national systems. What began as a pandemic response has evolved into a lasting transformation of healthcare delivery. Through investments in infrastructure, training, and governance, Georgia is building a resilient, people-centered, and future-ready health system where telemedicine has become a cornerstone of equitable healthcare access.
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