The closing ceremony and summary of the results of the project “Development of Medical Education Processes and Capabilities” was held at Tbilisi State University. The objective of the project was to enhance the competencies of the administrative and academic personnel of the Faculty of Medicine of TSU, to facilitate the exchange of experience and knowledge, and to foster civil society through the involvement of young medical professionals and the non-governmental sector.

The event was attended by TSU Chancellor Lasha Saghinadze, Latvian Ambassador to Georgia Edīte Medne, Dean of the TSU Faculty of Medicine Maia Bitskinashvili, and a number of Georgian and Latvian professors and students.

“This project marked the inception of a period of close collaboration between our universities. It is evident that there is a pressing need to enhance health literacy among our population, particularly in light of the recent pandemic. Therefore, bolstering societal resilience to disinformation and fostering the advancement of digitalization will facilitate the realization of our objectives. The primary objective is to educate students through the guidance of qualified instructors, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to become professionals in accordance with contemporary standards,” stated TSU Chancellor Lasha Saghinadze.

Edīte Medne, the Latvian Ambassador to Georgia, has indicated that her family members are engaged in the medical profession, which has afforded her a familiarity with the challenges and requirements associated with the field of medicine. The Ambassador indicated that Latvia’s accession to the European Union has been instrumental in advancing the country's medical sector towards alignment with international and European standards. Additionally, she stated that the project will assist Georgia, a prospective member of the European Union, in integrating Georgian medical and academic personnel into the European framework and in training young professional physicians.

Maia Bitskinashvili, Dean of the TSU Faculty of Medicine, stated that the collaboration with Latvia is enhanced by the incorporation of continuous medical education, knowledge and experience sharing, identifying similarities and differences, and joint research initiatives. According to her, during the visit of Georgian specialists to Riga, with the support of the Embassy of Georgia in Latvia, TSU professors had the opportunity to gain insight into the local healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, laboratories, and technology and innovation centers. With the support of the Embassy of Latvia in Georgia, colleagues from Latvia were able to visit Georgia and become acquainted with the opportunities available there. Additionally, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine observed that medical professionals from Latvia provide ongoing consultation to their Georgian counterparts.