There is no way to buy ART in Georgia. At your own risk, you can order it from India by mail, but customs may not let the treatment through. Only if the medication is registered in the country, it can be taken across the border.
My location
Updated: 8/02/2024
My location
Updated: 8/02/2024
Updated
8/02/2024
Country overview
- There are no restrictions on entry for people living with HIV in Georgia. Antiretroviral medications can be carried for personal use.
- According to Georgian law, HIV can be a reason to deny a residence permit. But there was no practice of applying this law.
Labor migrants
Migrant workers can receive free HIV-related health services, including ART, after a residence permit is issued. Health information is not required when applying for a residence permit. There were a large number of refusals when applying for a residence permit as of January 2023.
You can legally stay in Georgia for 1 year as a tourist, but travel insurance does not cover treatment for chronic diseases and HIV.
Labor migrants in tourist status can self-test for viral load and CD4 count. The cost of two tests is approximately $200. Then, many of them send the test results to the country where they are registered in AIDS center and receive the ART by parcel.
Refugees
HIV medical services, including analysis and ART, are free for refugees in Georgia.
You must go directly to a special clinic (AIDS Center) with documents confirming your refugee status. It is advisable to have medical records confirming your HIV status with you.
Access to treatment
In order to receive ART, you must have a residence permit or a document confirming your refugee status. Next, one of the four specialized clinics must be contacted. In Georgia, all HIV services are provided by AIDS Centers, which are located in the following cities: Kutaisi for Imereti region; Zugdidi for Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region; Batumi for Adjara region; and Tbilisi for Kvemo Kartli region.
In some cases, even with tourist status, it is possible to get ART for one month free of charge. To do this you need to go to one of the AIDS centers and get tested for CD4 and viral load for a fee. This option was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and is available as of January 2023.
Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center
Web site: www.aidscenter.ge
Address: Tbilisi,16 Alexander Kazbegi ave.
Phone:
+995 322 39 80 18
Regional Center of Infectious Pathology, Aids and Tuberculosis
E-mail:
[email protected]
Address: Batumi, 11 Jemal Katamadze str.
Phone:
+995 422 253615; +995 422 252335
AIDS Relief Fund
E-mail:
[email protected]
Address: 7 Merab Kostava str, Zugdidi 2100, Georgia
Phone:
+995 415 25 09 25
AIDS Center is located in the Medical City multidisciplinary clinic
E-mail:
[email protected]
Address: Kutaisi, 40 Poti str
Phone:
+995 568 14 49 49
No ability to get ART in emergencies
NGOs
Service: testing, counseling, HIV prevention
Web site: www.freehivtest-ge.org
E-mail:
[email protected]
Address: 2 Marie Brosset str, 0108 Tbilisi
Phone:
+995 322 228 040
Phone number for refugees from Ukraine:
+995 32 2398018
Service: social support for HIV and TB treatment, assistance (including financial) to abortion services
Web site: www.ka.lifetwo0.org
E-mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
+995599355436
Queer activist trans community organization
Service: peer and psychological counseling, HIV testing, condoms
Web site: www.temida.org.ge/en
E-mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
+995 555 95 81 16
Service: For LGBTIQ+ people. HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B testing, condoms and lubricants, harm reduction (for injecting and non-injecting)
Web site: www.equality.ge
E-mail:
[email protected] (English is recommended)
Address: 19, Ushangi Chkheidze str, Tbilissi
Phone:
+995 322 47 97 48
Service: Help with access to substitution treatment, referrals to partner organizations
Web site: www.ghrn.ge
E-mail:
[email protected]
Address: 24 Shartava str, 3rd floor, 6 apt., Tbilisi
Phone:
+99532 237 21 60; +995 599413242
