City project

Quality cancer management

Enhance the quality of cancer treatment, rehabilitation and supportive care.

City

Tbilisi, Georgia

Project lead

Nia Sharikadze

Areas of action

The challenge

Cancer treatment in Georgia is fragmented, with inconsistent coordination across services and facilities.
Non-standardised treatment approaches and early discontinuation of therapy reduce survival and increase the risk of recurrence.
Unevenly coordinated Multi-disciplinary treatment (MDT) models leading to, limited guideline-based care, treatment completion, and integration of supportive services.
Gaps in workforce training and treatment safety, particularly in chemotherapy preparation and administration, undermine quality of care.
Lack of ongoing support for systems that monitor adherence to treatment guidelines, outcomes, and value for money of medicines.
Gender-related barriers in cancer care delivery and workforce participation persists, as identified in the Tbilisi City Gender Consultation as part of the as part of C/Can’s Cities Taking Action for Gender Equity in Cancer Care (2024-2030) initiative.

The goal

To improve the quality of cancer care by:

Strengthening the healthcare workforce
Implementing standardised, multidisciplinary treatment approaches
Optimising resource allocation and cost-effectiveness in the use of anti-cancer therapies

The How

Alignment with pillar III of the World Health Organization Global Breast Cancer Initiative, aiming to provide at least 80% of patients with multimodal therapy, which includes surgery and/or radiotherapy, and systemic therapy when indicated.
Standardising oncology education and training to strengthen workforce capacity
Embedding multidisciplinary (MDT) models to improve coordination, quality, and patient-centred care.
Strengthening the quality and safety of systemic and radiation therapies through standardised protocols and targeted training
Improving monitoring of treatment quality, outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Applying a gender-responsive approach across workforce development, MDT care, and supportive services.

Outputs

Implementation of the recommendations for postgraduate-level clinical oncology programs to strengthen the cancer care workforce capacity.
Establish a National Framework for multidisciplinary cancer care.
Enhanced adherence to national breast and cervical cancer management guidelines through standardised dissemination and monitoring systems.
Improved quality and safety of anti-cancer therapy administration through targeted capacity development interventions for pharmacists and nurses.
Update of the National Essential Medicine List (in coordination with WHO Georgia Office).
Enhancing Decision-Making on the Value of Anti-Cancer Therapies.
Development and implementation of a national training and quality assurance framework for radiation oncology professionals.

Team

Project Lead

Nia Sharikadze, Clinical Oncologist, Head of the Clinical Oncology Department, Mardaleishvili Clinic

Project Team

Maka Maglakelidze, Manager of Todua Dighomi
Akaki Barkalaia, State Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education
Tamar Esakia, Medical Oncologist, Todua Vera
Nia Sharikadze, Clinical Oncologist, Mardaleishvili Clinic
Natia Jokhadze, Clinical Oncologist, American Hospital Tbilisi
Maia Okujava, Pharmacologist, Tbilisi State Medical University, Head of the Department of Medical Pharmacology
Akaki Barkalaia, State Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education
Ivane Kiladze, Clinical Oncologist, Caucasus Medical Center
Lela Sulaberidze, Head of the Strategic Development Department at MoH
Natalia Jankarashvili, Radiation Oncologist, Todua clinic
Maia Topeshashvili, Medical Physicist, Todua clinic
Dina Kudiani, Surgical Oncologist, Institute of Clinical Oncology
Tamar Rukhadze, Clinical Oncologist, Todua Clinic, Vice dean of the faculty of medicine of Tbilisi State University
Mariam Samkharadze, Pharmacist, American Hospital Tbilisi
Maria Iatsenko, Oncology Nurse, Todua clinic

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