Medical and diagnostic laboratory services in Georgia Georgia's government is steadily implementing health sector reforms. The deteriorated soviet health care system is undergoing a gradual process of privatisation, in order to encourage competition and investments. Private and corporate insurance schemes have been developed and in addition government funds are available for insurance of the 20% of the population that live below the poverty line.Centre of Family doctor, under its brand name MediHelp, has responded to the developments by rapidly opening three medical clinics. The company is profitable and employs 100 staff. However, MediHelp has very limited and obsolete laboratory equipment.MediHelp, through MMF, has found two partners in Holland that are interested in developing the Georgian health care market. One is a supplier of medical equipment and a developer of medical projects: Enraf-Nonius. Enraf-Nonius has a lot of international experience and sees this project as a show case for Georgia. Enraf-Nonius is the applicant. The other interested partner is Stichting Ingenhousz, part of the SHL group. The SHL group consists of several medical laboratories and medical service providers in the South of Holland. It has experience in developing and implementing protocols for analysis and diagnosis.The joint venture will set up an ISO certified laboratory which can carry out abroad range of medical and diagnostic tests. The capacity will be approximately 100,000 tests per year.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)CSR aspects of the project centre around working conditions, work safety and waste management. Safety instructions and procedures will be part of the staff training. Risk areas will be clearly marked. Hazardous medical waste, i.e. chemicals, sharps and pathological waste will be disposed of properly. MediHelp uses a medical waste company for collection of these types of waste.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe joint venture will employ 18 FTE, five people in medium/high positions and thirteen operators and support staff. The General Director and two doctors earn more than 1,000 euro per month. Support staff will earn at least 200 euro or 150% of minimum wages.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe knowledge transfer entails the training for the use of the latest technologies as well as the methodology related to quality assurance and strict, certified protocols. One lady in the management of the local partner is professor in a university. The students would benefit from advanced knowledge of their teacher.•	Chain effectsLaboratory services may be provided to other parties from the medical sector. Furthermore, regular assistance from ICT firms may be needed.•	EnvironmentAn environmental project, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and supervised by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency entails installing, two incinerators in Georgia. The joint venture's medical waste will go to that incinerator.•	Position of womenLocal partner employs 98% women. It is anticipated that in the joint venture women will also hold high-level positions. Setting up a modern certified medical and diagnostic laboratory for private clinics in Tbilisi with a capacity of a about 100,000 tests per year.