The reference pricing introduced in the Georgian health system reduced costs of oncology medicines by 45%, said the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, at the 73rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.

“If people can’t afford to go to the doctor or pay for medicine, it’s not just a practical issue, but an ethical problem because people lose trust in governments, in us.

However, there are many good examples. I have recently visited wonderful Tbilisi, Georgia, to discuss with the Minister how Georgia managed to regulate prices for medicines. It should be noted that the reference pricing introduced in the Georgian health system reduced costs of oncology medicines by 45%,” he said.

The 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, which reports on the progress in delivering the European Program of Work (EPW) 2020–2025. EPW focuses on tackling growing health inequalities in Europe.