2019-05-23
I am convinced that will become the leading medical services provider country in the region, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated in his speech at the opening ceremony of the regional office of the International Association for Medical Education (AMEE). The event was held at the Tbilisi State Medical University.
The Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the newly established AMEE International Networking Center in Georgia, and thanked every contributor to this success.
"Georgia is transforming into an international hub of medical education, which is, at the same time, a giant step toward being effectively integrated into the common European environment. AMEE has two regional centers, and the third one at the Tbilisi State Medical University will cover Southeastern Europe, besides our region," the Head of Government stated.
According to the Prime Minister, Georgia has potential to offer about 2,000,000 worth of medical services to the citizens of different countries. The Georgian people, Mamuka Bakhtadze said, appreciate medical education as a very important tradition and, at the same time, as a future-oriented trajectory.
"We have identified demanded medical vocations, and this demand will grow further over the next ten years. That is exactly why your university has special meaning and responsibility of ensuring our future generations' quality education, on one hand, and of supplying our economy with professionals enabling us to put in place a successful medical field in Georgia, on the other, to make Georgia and our citizens proud and to guarantee quality for our neighboring countries. I believe that AMEE's decision today will make taking necessary steps to this end much easier for all of us," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
According to the Head of Government, Georgia must reclaim its historical role as an educational hub.
"It is what Georgia has had historically, the pride and joy of each Georgian. Consequently, this decision is crucially important to us, both symbolically and emotionally. At the same it, it clearly stands for the recognition of the reforms and new approaches introduced at the Medical University. When discussing medical education, we primarily mean innovative approaches. It is the fastest growing industry in the world. It is very important to us not only to keep pace, but also to become the most successful and daring when it comes to innovative approaches," the Prime Minister emphasized.
The Head of Government, in his speech, singled out education as an idea of national importance. According to Mamuka Bakhtadze, it is the only way to ensure strong guarantees for Georgia to become a successful country in the 21st century.
"I have heard a lot of criticism hurled against my initiative to channel 1/4 of our budget toward education. For a country still fighting poverty, it is of course a very important decision. I believe that it is the most daring step we have taken since declaring independence. At the same time, I strongly believe that it is the only right way and guarantee for Georgia to be successful as a state in eth 21st century. Needless to say, eth medical community, similar to past few decades, will be at the forefront of this progress," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
The event was attended by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, members of executive and legislative, and representatives of the medical community.
The main goal of the AMEE International Networking Center in Georgia is to share modern medical education methodologies, hold thematic trainings for the faculties and administrative personnel of eth region's schools of higher medical education, also for medical education experts and other stakeholders from various institutions.
Prime Minister's Press Office