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Strengthening Health Workforce in Georgia: Identifying Gaps and Integrating Evidence‐Based Strategic Planning

Author

Listed:
  • Giorgi Aladashvili
  • Mariam Kirvalidze
  • Aleksandre Tskitishvili
  • Nikoloz Chelidze
  • Nikoloz Tvildiani
  • Giorgi Pkhakadze
  • Thomas J. Bossert
  • Karsten Lunze
  • Ilia Nadareishvili

Abstract

Health workforce planning is essential for ensuring a resilient and well‐functioning healthcare system capable of addressing population needs and responding to crises. In Georgia, an upper‐middle‐income country, significant challenges remain in the strategic planning, regulation, and management of the health workforce. This policy analysis evaluated health workforce planning approaches in Georgia's dynamic health system context. Health workforce planning in Georgia, guided by the National Health Strategy 2022–2030, prioritises needs‐based workforce planning, professional qualifications, and nursing development. However, Georgia faces data inconsistencies, workforce imbalances, and an uneven geographic distribution of healthcare professionals, limiting the efficacy of current policies. The lack of formal health workforce planning, reliance on market‐driven approaches, and weak retention strategies contribute to workforce shortages and migration. A centralised planning body, and enhancement in data collection and management, could facilitate the gradual introduction of context‐relevant, evidence‐based workforce planning methods. By integrating rigorous, long‐term workforce planning with intersectoral collaboration and adopting innovative methods like workload‐based modelling and hybrid planning methods, Georgia can create a sustainable health workforce aligned with its health system's evolving needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Giorgi Aladashvili & Mariam Kirvalidze & Aleksandre Tskitishvili & Nikoloz Chelidze & Nikoloz Tvildiani & Giorgi Pkhakadze & Thomas J. Bossert & Karsten Lunze & Ilia Nadareishvili, 2025. "Strengthening Health Workforce in Georgia: Identifying Gaps and Integrating Evidence‐Based Strategic Planning," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(4), pages 993-1001, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijhplm:v:40:y:2025:i:4:p:993-1001
    DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3922
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Batenburg, Ronald, 2015. "Health workforce planning in Europe: Creating learning country clusters," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(12), pages 1537-1544.
    2. Gareth H Rees & Rosemary James & Levan Samadashvili & Cris Scotter, 2023. "Are Sustainable Health Workforces Possible? Issues and a Possible Remedy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Kroezen, Marieke & Van Hoegaerden, Michel & Batenburg, Ronald, 2018. "The Joint Action on Health Workforce Planning and Forecasting: Results of a European programme to improve health workforce policies," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(2), pages 87-93.
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