The Minister of Health of Georgia, Mikheil Sarjveladze, announced that a draft amendment has been submitted to the government for consideration, stating that patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), as well as those with several other rare diseases, will receive expanded access to outpatient, inpatient, and diagnostic services.
Sarjveladze noted that there is currently no medication in the world that can cure Duchenne disease. There are only drugs capable of slowing the progression of the illness and delaying the point at which a patient might require a wheelchair by approximately one to three years.
The Minister stated that the issue of treating this disease has been under active discussion in recent days. He emphasized that the ministry has been studying the topic for a long time and is evaluating both the safety and efficacy of potential medications.
Sarjveladze also reported that the ministry continues to work with patients, their families, and doctors, considering not only treatment but also their other needs. According to him, work in this direction will continue, and the public will be regularly informed about new decisions.
He noted that inaccurate opinions are being spread by certain specialists and politicians regarding the treatment, which the minister suggested could be due to the politicization of the issue or insufficient competence.
The proposed amendments are aimed at expanding medical assistance for patients with rare diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
