A Case Study of the Higher Education System in Georgia

The higher education system of countries is an important area that determines the countries drive for development. This thesis aims to scrutinize the higher education system in Georgia and how the system translates and resonates with Georgia’s development. Several questions have been raised in light of the several reforms that have greeted the higher education system in Georgia and these questions are summed up into three all-encompassing questions in this thesis. The questions includes – How is the higher education situation in Georgia? Why is it in its current state and what are the implications of this current state? This thesis used the single case study method and supported it with policy analysis to analyze the several reforms and to find answers to these questions. This thesis gathered corroborative information through interviews conducted with four experts who have played active roles and still do in the Georgian higher education system. The internal determinants for each policy and reform was explored to understand the motive behind the changes and this thesis eventually compared the changes in the Georgian higher education system to that effected in the Estonian higher education system. It became clear that the questions about the sustainability of the Georgian higher education system were premised upon credible consequences trailing each reform and this thesis eventually reached the conclusion that the Georgian higher education system lacked long-term credibility. This thesis concludes that while Georgia aspires for EU membership, the country’s higher education system is pivotal for all round development

Complications with Pneumoniae in COVID-19 Patients at the First University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia

COVID -19 virus can infect the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia in humans. This is associated with different health difficulties, prolonged hospitalization, high mortality rate and economical-financial problems as well.160 patients were admitted to First University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia (March-June 2020). We conducted retrospective study to reveal the frequency of pneumonia among COVID -19 patients, specifically according to gender and age. Study results show that pneumonia was common in most COVID -19 cases (74.3%), that was more prevalent in females - 58%. Especially, high rate of this complication was reported in the age group of patients  between 30-59 years (47.8%) rather than in other age groups. 92.4% of pneumonia patients were recovered, lethal outcome was developed in 7.6% of cases

Scoping maternal care through the lens of maternal deaths: A retrospective analysis of maternal mortality in Georgia

Introduction - Reduction of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to 12 per 100,000 live births by 2030 is a priority target in Georgia. This study aims to assess and classify MM in Georgia by direct and indirect causes of death from 2014 to 2017, using data from the national surveillance system and in accordance with internationally approved criteria. Material and methods - In this secondary study, MM data was retrieved from the Maternal and Children’s Health Coordinating Committee and validated with data from the Vital Registry System and the Georgian Birth Registry. The study sample comprised 61 eligible MM cases. Relevant information was transferred to case-report forms to review and classify MM cases by direct and indirect causes of maternal death. Results - The MMR during the study period was 26.7 per 100,000 live births. The proportion of direct causes of maternal death exceeded that of indirect causes, at 62% and 38%, respectively. The leading direct cause of maternal death was haemorrhage, while infection was the most frequent indirect cause. 52.5% of MM cases had no pre-existing medical condition, 62.3% had frequent adherence to antenatal care, and 52.5% had emergency caesarean sections. Conclusion - In Georgia, direct causes of maternal death exceed indirect causes in MM cases, with haemorrhage and infections, respectively, being most common. These findings are important to ensure optimal and continuous care and to accelerate progress in the reduction of MM in the country

C reactive protein, Procalcitonin, Ferritin Levels in Mild, Severe and Critically Ill Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has infected millions of people worldwide, causing the COVID-19 pandemic. The pathogenic mechanism of infection is still under investigation.Due to lack of appropriate treatment, it is important to determine specific biomarkers to help clinicians identify patients at high risk of death, especially among those with severe COVID-19. These inflammatory factors may be prognostic biomarkers for predicting severe COVID-19 infection, therefore early identification of patients with COVID-19 with possible adverse prognostic factors is important for treatment and limiting severe outcomes and death.In the study we investigated the potential interdependence of some laboratory parameters - C reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin in different clinical severity COVID‐19 patients. Study results indicate that average values of these biomarkers vary in accordance with severity of COVID-19 infection. These values are explicitly higher in critically ill patients in comparison with mild and severe forms of disease

Global investments in pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: development assistance and domestic spending on health between 1990 and 2026

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95$7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95$43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and$37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained

Reimagining Georgia : Images of Georgia Held by the Collective West, Russian, and Georgian Political Elites from 1991 to 2020

This compilation thesis examines the United States (U.S.), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), Russian, and Georgian political elites’ images of Georgia from the regaining of Georgia’s independence in 1991 up to 2020. This topic shows the significance of studying the role of the agency of individual leaders and including them as a level of analysis when analyzing different geopolitical setups. The empirical data come from the author’s 102 original interviews with political elites from Georgia, the U.S., NATO and the EU, including presidents, prime ministers, ministers, secretaries, secretaries-general, and Russian foreign policy experts. This dissertation comprises four articles, each using the same research design.  The findings of this dissertation show that over time, external and internal political elites hold somewhat varying images of Georgia. These diverging images that mainly emerged after the Rose Revolution of 2003 have a geopolitical character and are crucial for understanding Georgia’s strained geopolitical context. In particular, they reflect a rift between the U.S., NATO, the EU, Georgia, and Russia with regard to the perception of the threat to and cultural status of Georgia. This has chiefly influenced the type of imagery of Georgia that the actors hold and has contributed to the changing geopolitical conditions. Overall, changes in internal and external political elites’ perceptions and attention to image variation help explain policy variation over time.

From a willing partner to close political and economic partner : analysing EU political elites' images of Georgia from 1991 to 2020

This article explores EU political elites' images of Georgia and its evolution from 1991 to 2020. The analysis relies on the author's 25 original interviews with EU political elites, including presidents, prime ministers and ministers of EU member states and EU commissioners, alongside primary documents. By triangulating between novel interview data, document analysis and statements by EU officials, this article unpacks EU perceptions of Georgia's intentions, capabilities, threats and cultural status over a 30-year historical period. The study shows that three main images of Georgia have emerged over time in the eyes of EU and EU member states leaders: first, Georgia as a willing partner to the EU; second, Georgia as a political partner to the EU and third, Georgia as a close political and economic partner to the EU. This article, by studying the EU political elites' images of Georgia, adds knowledge to the EU's perceptions of external actors, which is an under-researched topic in the scholarship of images and perceptions in EU external relations. Moreover, it extends the literature on EU-Georgia relations, and helps to understand some of their peculiarities

From failing state to strategic partner : analyzing US and NATO political elite images of Georgia and policy implications from 1991 to 2020

This article investigates U.S. and NATO political elite images of Georgia and policy implications from 1991 to 2020. The analysis relies on the author’s 44 original interviews with U.S. and NATO political elites, including U.S. Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries of States, U.S. Generals, Secretaries-General and Deputy Secretaries of NATO, and others in power in the different periods from 1991 to 2020. The study shows that three main images of Georgia have emerged over the 30-year historical period in the eyes of U.S. and NATO political elites. In the first two decades, leadership and personal connections have increased the likelihood of certain policies together with material determinants and ideational factors. In the third decade, personal ties had disappeared, but structural incentives were acknowledged by U.S. and NATO elites which impacted their policies. Moreover, results show that the U.S. relationship with Georgia has been chiefly personalized rather than institutionalized

Effectiveness of Glucocorticoid Therapy in COVID-19 Patients (Brief Review)

Glucocorticoid therapy is widely used among patients with different severe pulmonary inflammatory diseases. The novel study results recommend the use of corticosteroids for treatment of severe form of COVID-19 infection. Study results also indicate the importance of monitoring of these patients due to the possible adverse reactions of glucocorticoid therapy