The Legal Form and Standards of a Medical Institution
A medical institution is a legal person of an organizational and legal form permitted by Georgian legislation that carries out medical activity in the established manner. The law describes this status through strict quantitative criteria: the share of income from medical activity in the financial resources of the institution must be at least 75 percent, and at least 75 percent of the average annual value of the fixed assets on its balance must be allocated to the performance of medical functions. The full amount of income received from services performed under internal standards remains at the disposal of the institution, while the salary fund must constitute at least 30 percent of income. These requirements ensure that the licensed entity has a genuinely medical orientation rather than being merely formally registered.
The functions of medical institutions are the determination of the patient's state of health; the prophylaxis and, or, treatment of diseases, the rehabilitation of patients and, or, palliative care; obstetric activity; pharmaceutical activity; the pathological anatomical examination of corpses and forensic medical examination; and the carrying out of epidemiological control measures. The institution is obliged to provide emergency medical care to the patient in the cases provided by law, to observe the standards, rules and norms regulating medical and pharmaceutical activity, and to ensure equal accessibility of the institution for persons with disabilities.
Licence, Permit and the Personnel List
In the sphere of medical activity, the document confirming the corresponding right — a licence and, or, a permit — is issued by the relevant ministry. The list of health care personnel with the right of employment and the corresponding education is approved by the minister. The licensing process thus unfolds on two levels: the right confirming document and the control of the qualifications of personnel.