HIPPOCRATES HOSPITAL - AKHMEDA
CCHARM TRIP REPORT
1st - 6th March 2007

This trip was primarily :

• Hospital Progress Report
• Deliver February and March wages
• Deliver purchased hospital equipment
• Assist training in usage of this equipment
• Assessment of Project viabilities

Hospital Progress Report

The Hospital has been a great success since our last trip in January. 40 General Surgical operations have been performed in January and February. These operations include removal of Kidneys for complex renal stone disease, Cholecystectomies for gallbladder disease, several appendicectomies and hernia repairs.
No major complications post operatively reported thus far.

This year the Georgian Government is closing down ALL Government run Hospitals and investing in the setting up of 100 nationally appointed Private Clinics. This means that Hippocrates Hospital (CCHARM) will be the only Medical facility between Pankisi , with all other major services being relocated and consolidated in Telavi 40-50 km South of Akhmeta.

The equipment we brought this time, was well received. The Plastic Surgical equipment is the only set of its kind between Akhmeta and Tbilisi. This would mean that the Hospital with appropriate Government funding could run a service treating small Burns in the Raion, obviating the need for long distance traveling and prolonged in-patient stay in the capital.

We had the opportunity to see the Ultrasonographer from Telavi at work in his clinic. There were about 20 patients queuing for scans ( all fee paying ). Having now purchased a portable ultrasound scanner, we would anticipate our Doctor being able to take over the service provision locally, treating the Refugees for free, and providing a low cost service for the local Georgians, who under the new system would be expected to pay for their healthcare under a nationally organized Health insurance system.
The daily patient inflow would be up to 50 patients a day, with a very conservative estimate of at least 600Lari generated per day from the Ultrasound service alone .        ( £150 x 3-5 week )

January:
4 appendicectomies : 4 days post op stay with daily antibiotics and analgesia
2 cholecystectomies: 7-8 days post op inpatient stay
10 hernia repairs: 4 days post op inpatient stay
4 Rectal adenoma removal : 14 days inpatient post op stay
2 nephrectomies: 6-7 days post op inpatient stay

continue