On November 1, 2017, at Tbilisi State Medical University, David Sergeenko Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs and Paata Bukia, Deputy Head of State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities met with the seekers for medical specialties, residents, the representatives of TSMU academic personnel as well as  interested students.

The meeting was attended by: Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University; Professor Zurab Orjonikidze Chancellor; Vice Rectors, Professors: Khatuna Todadze and Rima Beriashvili; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Tinatin Chikovani; Director of the Institute  of Postgraduate Medical Education and Continuous Professional Development, Associate Professor Zaza Bokhua; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Iv.Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Professor Aleksandre Tsiskaridze; Nikoloz Gamkrelidze, General Director of “Evex Medical Corporation"; Ekaterine Seperteladze Head of the Department of Postgraduate Education and Accreditation at the same company and other persons, interested.

The meeting was opened and the audience was welcomed by the Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University, Professor Zurab Vadachkoria. Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria noted that TSMU has close cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Affairs of Georgia and reiterated that he is very pleased to welcome Mr. David  Sergeenko in his Alma Mater.  As for the topic of the meeting, Professor Zurab Vadachkoria assessed it as the issue of great importance for postgraduate education. The Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, David Sergeenko welcomed young listeners with special warmth: “I am very pleased to be within the walls of Tbilisi State Medical University. As Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria stated, we have great practice of close cooperation with Tbilisi State Medical University. It is a privilege to meet my young colleagues who have chosen a very difficult but respectful profession. I would like reaffirm over again my respect to you and introduce the news”. Today we should introduce two main issues: the first - financial support for postgraduate education. Three years ago we started financing the seeker-students who expressed a desire to practice medicine in certain regions of Georgia for a certain period of time. It was a community support program.  Now, we have developed a project to support the seekers of medical specialty: With the initiative of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, in the framework of the Postgraduate Medical Education Program the scholarships will be granted to the seekers of medical specialty  who will get the highest scores  at the  qualification exams. In total, 10 students will get the scholarship,  each - 2200 GEL. Only the specialties that are actual and deficient will be financed. The second - the exams and tests, requires more detailed information. The existing system is designed to verify your knowledge... no matter how difficult is the test, believe me, the patient will have a very difficult test for you... ". Paata Bukia, Deputy Head of the State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities, spoke about all details related to these exams and tests.

At the meeting David Sergeenko, Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and Paata Bukia, Deputy Head of State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities, answered all questions, arisen. Scholarships for the successful seekers of medical specialty established by the Ministry of Health are aimed at facilitating professional development of the students.