Georgian Health Minister, with highest positive rating, resigns after 7 years
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, June 19
Davit Dergeenko, who was the second minister in the Georgian Dream Cabinet of Ministers to have retained the post for seven years, resigned on Tuesday.
He has been appointed as Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze’s new advisor for health and labor issues.
Ekaterine Tikaradze cited as a “personal dentist “ of the founder of the ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili by the opposition, will replace him in the role.
Both Tikaradze and Sergeenko headed Sachkhere Regional Hospital in western Georgia, built by Ivanishvili in his home region.
Sergeenko, who was appointed to the post at the end of October 2012, after the Georgian Dream coalition defeated the nine-year-rule of the United National Movement, said at a special briefing on June 18 that leaving was his decision.
He stated that he recommended the PM to appoint Tikaradze in the role, as she “has best skills” to carry out planned reforms in the health and labor fields.
Sergeenko said that the reason for the resignation were the reforms which concern the digitalization of the healthcare system, decreasing of people’s expenses on medicines, the building of flats for IDPs, ensuring labor security and several others.
Bakhtadze described Sergeenko as one of the most distinguished faces of the Georgian Dream, who provided “huge efforts” to carry out the General Healthcare Programme, Hepatitis C Elimination Programme and many other, “very significant” projects.
“He will always stay in our team,” Bakhtadze said.
Tikaradze, who has German education, came to Georgia in 2009 as a consultant in Sachkhere hospital and was appointed as the director of the hospital in 2015, with the recommendation of Sergeenko.
“I will do my best to successfully carry out the second phase of the health reform and make Georgia a regional leader for health services,” Tikaradze said.
A member of the Georgian Dream ruling party Archil Talakvadze says that Sergeenko may appear in the high role in the renewed team of the party after 2020 parliamentary elections.
Former Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili commented that the Georgian Dream “is trying to save the positive image” of Sergeenko, to use him better during the 2020 race.
A member of the United National Movement opposition Roman Gotsiridze said that Sergeenko could not be considered a successful minister, as corruption remains a problem in the ministry he headed.
“As for Tikaradze, I believe that the appointment of Ivanishvili’s dentist in the role is the abuse of the Georgian people,” Gotsiridze said.
Polls released by the US National Democratic Institute (NDI) earlier this year read that 40 percent of the surveyed liked Sergeenko and only 12 percent disliked him.
