Strengthening the Healthcare System for fighting against the pandemic:

·         Purchase of individual protective equipment, various medical supplies and medical equipment / laboratory equipment needed to support the management of infection (COVID-19) caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) 

·         Ensuring quarantine measures (Hotel services of quarantine spaces; Providing quarantine facilities with medical staff and primary medical supplies / medicines; Quarantine coordinator services - 150 GEL per day for each beneficiary);

·         Ensure Management of COVID 19 for new coronavirus disease, including: outpatient diagnosis of possible cases (except for testing for COVID 19); Inpatient treatment for a confirmed case of COVID 19; Management of an unconfirmed case of COVID 19 requiring inpatient treatment (outpatient diagnosis (other than testing for COVID 19) is reimbursed at 150 GEL, and inpatient treatment of a confirmed case of COVID 19 at actual cost)

·         Strengthening laboratories capacity involved in diagnosing COVID-19

·         Reimbursement of operating expenses of the institutions participating in the management of the COVID-19. Facilities with 80 beds or fewer will receive on average GEL 100 per bed, and those with more than 80 beds will receive GEL 120 per bed. This fixed amount includes risks of medical staff and utility bills, as well as operational costs.

Dear Ketevan,

I would be grateful for more extended  healthcare related  component, just so far it is much less detailed than the.

Thank you in advance for your prompt reply,

Nika

GEL 3.5 Billion (approximately EUR 1 Billion) and consists of three major components:

-       Caring for citizens and providing them with social support – GEL 1.035 Bln

-       Caring for the economy and supporting entrepreneurs  – GEL  2.110 Bln

-       Strengthening the Healthcare System and fighting against the pandemic – GEL 350 M

Caring for citizens and providing them with social support:

-       Hired employees who have lost their jobs or are on unpaid leaves will receive 1,200 GEL in assistance over a period of 6 months (200 GEL per month). Approximately 350,000 citizens will be able to take advantage of the assistance. (estimated cost 460 M GEL).

-       Employers will receive State subsidies for every retained jobs. For 6 months, salaries of up to 750 GEL will be exempt from income tax. For salaries of up to 1,500 GEL , 750 GEL will be exempt of income tax. (estimated cost 250 M GEL).

-       Persons employed in the informal sector or self-employed persons will receive one-time assistance of 300 GEL if they provide proof of loss of income (estimated cost approximately 75 M GEL)

-       In six months, assistance amounting to 600 GEL on average will be provided to :

. families whose social rating score is between 65,000 and 100,000 (estimated cost approximately 45 M GEL)

. families whose social rating score is between 0 and 100,000 and who have 3 or more children under the age of 16 (estimated cost approximately 13 M GEL)

. persons with severe disabilities and disabled children  (estimated cost approximately 25 M GEL)

-       Pension indexation will be introduced in January 2021:

. the pensions of all pensioners will increase by no less than the rate of inflation

. 80% of real economic growth will be added to the rate of inflation for pensioners aged 70 and older

. pension growth will be no less than 20 GEL, and no less than 25 GEL for pensioners aged 70 and older

Caring for the economy and supporting entrepreneurs:

-        The automatic VAT refund mechanism will come into force and VAT surplus refunds will be doubled. In 2020, businesses will receive an additional 600 M GEL.

-        Commercial banks will be provided with 600 M GEL in long-term resources

-       Additional 500 M GEL will be allocated to support business, including including a credit-guarantee scheme with a budget of 300 million GEL for small and medium businesses looking to take out loans or restructuring old loans.

-       Support to villages, agriculture and regional development:

. grants of up to GEL 30,000

. agrocredit: full financing of loan interests (estimated total volume of loans is GEL 50 M)

. support to amelioration activities: full exemption from amelioration fees for 2020 and full writing-off of debts accumulated in the previous years

Strengthening the Healthcare System and fighting against the pandemic:

-       Funds to support the healthcare system and fight against the pandemic diagnostic. Those funds will be dedicated to purchasing Personal Protection Equipments (PPE), and ensure diagnostic and  treatment of COVID-19 patients