Palliative Care as a Health System Indicator in Georgia: Unmet Need, Access Barriers, and Policy Implications

This article examines palliative care as an indicator of health system performance in Georgia. Drawing on international literature, national policy documents, and health system statistics, the study analyses structural barriers affecting access to palliative care services, including geographic disparities, workforce capacity, community-based care availability, and access to opioid analgesics. The analysis applies the tracer condition framework to interpret palliative care development as a reflection of broader health system characteristics, including equity of access, continuity of care, pharmaceutical governance, and service integration. The findings highlight persistent gaps in palliative care service availability in Georgia and emphasise the importance of strengthening community-based care, balanced opioid policies, workforce training, and health system monitoring mechanisms. The article contributes to global health systems literature by illustrating how palliative care can function as a practical indicator of health system responsiveness and equity in countries undergoing demographic and epidemiological transition.