The Public Health Institute of Georgia is an independent, non-profit public health institute founded in Tbilisi in 2011. Over fifteen years it has grown from an advocacy voice into a regional institute that produces evidence, trains the health workforce, reaches millions of people with trusted health information — and has helped change national health policy.
At a glance
Mission, vision and values
Mission
To improve the health of people in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Türkiye by turning evidence into public understanding and policy change.
Vision
A region where health systems are safe, accountable and people-centred, and where every policy decision is informed by reliable evidence in the languages people speak.
Values
Independence, scientific integrity, transparency, impartiality, respect for patients and communities, and open access to knowledge.
Our journey
Select a period to see the milestones.
Proof of impact
Independent accreditation becomes a national requirement
Challenge: Georgia had no form of healthcare facility accreditation.
What we did: Eight years of advocacy, a pilot with ASF in 50+ facilities and dialogue with government.
Result: 2022 ministerial order; 23 facilities entering Accreditation Canada accreditation in 2023.
Read more →Patients get a voice in hospitals
Challenge: Patients had almost no structured role in hospital decisions.
What we did: Designed and launched the Patient and Family Council model with a PHIG secretariat.
Result: Councils in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi since January 2024.
Read more →Consumers can check supplements
Challenge: No independent public information existed on supplements sold in Georgia.
What we did: Built an independent, advertising-free evidence database with a 36-section review method.
Result: 28,605 products and 393 ingredient profiles online (supplement.ge, 2026).
Read more →Knowledge infrastructure in Georgian
Challenge: Evidence and terminology in Georgian were scattered and hard to cite.
What we did: Created a DOI-registered journal, a dictionary and a bilingual regulations library.
Result: Crossref DOI prefix 10.66636; 12,597 dictionary terms; 47 regulation summaries.
Read more →Two organisations, one alliance
Accréditation Sans Frontières (ASF), founded in Paris, and the Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG), founded in Tbilisi, are international, non-profit, independent organisations. Together they promote healthcare accreditation and standards in emerging economies, fragile states and humanitarian settings.
The alliance is guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. Its purpose is to improve the quality of healthcare services, keep patients and medical personnel safe, and improve the performance of healthcare facilities.
Where we work
Healthcare quality matters most where it is hardest to guarantee. Our accreditation work is built for three kinds of setting.
Humanitarian settings
In a crisis, accreditation makes sure that health facilities still meet recognised benchmarks. That builds trust among affected communities, supports efficient use of scarce resources, helps attract funding and keeps vital safety protocols in place for the people who are most vulnerable.
Fragile states
Where governance and basic services are under strain, validated facilities give wary populations confidence that care meets international or regional benchmarks. Accreditation also signals to donors that resources are used effectively, and gives rebuilding health systems a foundation for more resilient communities.
Emerging economies
Rapid growth, urbanisation and globalisation put new pressure on health systems. Accreditation is a commitment to international standards, so that facilities are equipped for both endemic and emerging health issues and the health sector earns the trust of patients and of domestic and international investors.
“Every woman, child and adolescent is entitled to quality healthcare. Independent accreditation of health facilities is not a luxury, but a vital tool to help them make the right decisions.”
Dr Giorgi Pkhakadze, President of ASF and member of the UN Secretary-General’s Independent Accountability Panel, the only independent accountability mechanism established under the SDGs.
Aligned with global and European priorities
Our pillars contribute directly to the frameworks that guide WHO, the United Nations, the European Union and national governments.
| Pillar | Sustainable Development Goals | WHO and EU frameworks |
|---|---|---|
| Health Security & Infection Prevention | 3.3 · 3.d | IHR (2005) · WHO core components of IPC · EU Regulation 2022/2371 |
| Health & Migration | 3.8 · 10.7 | WHO Global Action Plan on refugee and migrant health · Global Competency Standards |
| Environment, Work & Health | 3.9 · 8.8 | WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity · EU Waste Framework Directive |
| Quality, Safety & People-centred Care | 3.8 | WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 · EU–Georgia Association Agreement |
What we offer partners
- A trusted national implementing and technical partner with a track record of policy change in Georgia
- Research, evaluation and open-access publication through the Georgian Medical Journal (Crossref DOIs)
- Training and continuing education in Georgian, English and Russian through GMJ Academy
- Public communication at scale through the Sheni network — 5M+ readers a month (Sheni network analytics)
- Quality and accreditation expertise with Accréditation Sans Frontières and Accreditation Canada
- A regional hub in Tbilisi for the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Türkiye
Leadership
Former WHO staff member (Noncommunicable Diseases, Geneva); five years of technical work with WHO on health and migration; principal public health adviser to the Prime Minister of Georgia during COVID-19 (2020–22); member of the UN Secretary-General’s Independent Accountability Panel (2016–21); Secretary/Treasurer of the UEMS Section of Public Health; Head of the School of Public Health, David Tvildiani Medical University; Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal. ORCID 0000-0001-7609-4515.
Partners and standards bodies
Questions and answers
Is PHIG independent?
Yes. PHIG is an independent, non-profit legal entity registered in Georgia. It is not part of government and does not accredit facilities itself — accreditation is delivered by its alliance partner, Accréditation Sans Frontières.
Where does PHIG work?
From its hub in Tbilisi across the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Türkiye, in Georgian, English and Russian.
How can we partner with PHIG?
Contact us about consortia, research, training or communication projects through the contact page.