Legislation
Georgian Ministry of Health Order №4/N on the international accreditation of healthcare providers and its amendments, as of September 2026.
Ambulatory, day-hospital and laboratory service providers submit a copy of their international accreditation or ISO certificate to the Ministry.
Order №34/NThe deadline for submitting certificates. Facilities with a contract with an accreditor could be granted additional time, up to 31 December 2025.
Order №14/NThe Minister may set exceptional conditions for objective reasons, provided the quality of care is not affected.
Order №20/NCurrent rules
Order №4/N, taking all amendments into account.
- Who it applies to
- Only organizations holding international accreditation may provide services under the state Universal Health Coverage programme. The requirement covers inpatient, ambulatory and day-hospital providers. It does not apply to providers under the “Village Doctor” sub-programme.
- Who may accredit
- An organization that is both a member of ISQua and accredited by it, and that has an established practice of accrediting healthcare facilities in the European Union, Canada or the United States. Accreditation Canada is first on the recommended list. Since September 2023, the assessment may also be carried out by a local accreditation body operating in an EU member state.
- Alternatives
- Ambulatory providers may hold ISO 9001 certification instead. Laboratory service providers, including laboratories within healthcare facilities, must hold ISO 15189. This obligation does not apply to facilities and laboratories that hold an international accreditation certificate.
- Notifying the Ministry
- When an accreditor from the recommended list is chosen, the facility notifies the Ministry within 30 calendar days of starting the accreditation process. Choosing an organization that is not on the list requires the Ministry’s prior agreement.
- Exceptional conditions
- Since 30 June 2026, the Minister may set exceptional conditions for a facility on grounds of geographic access, public interest or other objective circumstances, provided this does not affect the quality of care. The facility submits information on its progress in the accreditation process, the objective circumstances involved and the measures taken or planned to resolve them.
- Continuity
- Accreditation and ISO certificates are renewed at the intervals set by the assessing organization, without gaps.
The order and its amendments
All documents are published in the Legislative Herald of Georgia (in Georgian).
- 26.01.2023
Order №4/N
The base order: from 1 January 2025, programme providers must hold international accreditation; criteria for accreditors and the recommended list; ISO 9001 and ISO 15189 as alternatives.
- 08.09.2023
Order №66/N
The assessment may also be carried out by a local accreditation body operating in an EU member state.
- 31.12.2024
Order №46/N
Deadlines: certificates due by 1 May 2025 for inpatient providers and by 31 December 2025 for ambulatory providers and laboratories. ISO 15189 became mandatory for laboratories without international accreditation. The Minister may grant a reasonable extension.
- 02.05.2025
Order №14/N
The inpatient deadline moved to 15 June 2025. Facilities that presented a contract with an accreditor could be granted additional time, up to 31 December 2025.
- 30.12.2025
Order №34/N
The deadline for ambulatory, day-hospital and laboratory providers moved to 31 December 2026.
- 30.06.2026
Order №20/N
The Minister may set exceptional conditions for a facility on grounds of geographic access, public interest or other objective circumstances, provided quality is not affected.
This overview is for information only and is not legal advice. Before making decisions, check the current text on matsne.gov.ge.
What this means for your organization
If you provide ambulatory or laboratory services under the Universal Health Coverage programme, you must submit a copy of your international accreditation or ISO certificate to the Ministry by 31 December 2026. Preparation takes time, so start now.
Accreditation Canada is among the organizations recommended in the Order. Its local team supports your preparation in Georgian and will also help you notify the Ministry within 30 days of starting the process.
Share this page
accreditation.ge
Page
Georgia Healthcare Accreditation Law: Order №4/N
https://accreditation.ge/en/legal-framework/How to cite this page
Accreditation Canada – Georgia. Georgia Healthcare Accreditation Law: Order №4/N [Internet]. Tbilisi: Public Health Institute of Georgia; 2026 [cited 2026 Sep 24]. Available from: https://accreditation.ge/en/legal-framework/