Asked why the new minister reduced the bed fund and why 12 clinics were suspended, Tamar Gabunia, the deputy health minister, said it was a standard procedure used during the previous waves.
"When we see a need for beds, the clinics will accept the request again. This is an active management process; there is nothing new in it.
We have 12 thousand acute care beds in the system. Out of 12 thousand beds, 9 912 beds are mobilized for covid purposes. When the mobilized bed load is reduced below 50%, the Ministry of Health sends advance notice to certain clinics that if they do not need to continue their mobilization, they can return to normal operations," said Tamar Gabunia.
