The Concept of a Medical Institution and Its Criteria
Opening a diagnostic centre in Georgia begins with the legal concept of a medical institution. Under the law, a medical institution is a legal entity of an organisational and legal form permitted by Georgian legislation that carries out medical activity in the prescribed manner. This definition has practical weight: the centre must be registered as a legal entity and its medical status properly formalised.
Together with the concept, the law sets financial criteria that essentially define the status of a medical institution. The share of income derived from medical activity in the financial resources of the institution must amount to not less than 75%, and not less than 75% of the average annual value of the fixed assets on its balance must be allocated for carrying out the medical functions. In addition, 100% of the income received from medical services and other economic activity performed under internal standards remains at the disposal of the institution, while the salary fund must constitute not less than 30% of that income.
The Functions of a Medical Institution and Its Obligations
The law defines the functions of a medical institution: determining the state of a patient’s health; prophylaxis, treatment, rehabilitation or palliative care; midwifery activity; pharmaceutical activity; pathologoanatomic examination and forensic medical expertise; and epidemiological control measures. For a diagnostic centre the first of these — determining the state of health — is central and defines its profile. At the same time, the institution is obliged to provide emergency medical care to a patient in the cases provided for by law, to observe the standards, rules and norms established by the legislation regulating medical and pharmaceutical activity, and to ensure equal accessibility of the institution for persons with disabilities.
Licence and Permit: Which Document Is Needed When
In the sphere of medical activity, the document confirming the relevant right — a licence and/or a permit — is issued by the ministry. The rule is clear: activity subject to licensing or permitting may not be carried out without the appropriate licence and/or permit. The personnel question is equally important: the list of health-care personnel with the right of employment in a medical institution and with appropriate education is approved by the minister. Each service must also be analysed separately: some activities require a licence, others a permit, and yet others fall under a notification regime.