Tbilisi Workshop Enhances Breast Cancer Care Navigation

News Summary

On December 17, 2025, Tbilisi hosted a vital Patient Navigation Workshop, uniting stakeholders to tackle breast cancer care challenges in Georgia. Organized by the WHO and City Cancer Challenge, the workshop aimed to ensure timely diagnosis and seamless patient experiences. With a focus on collaboration and shared expertise, the participants succeeded in identifying barriers to care and developing strategies to improve patient navigation, ultimately targeting better outcomes for breast cancer patients in the country.

Tbilisi

Addressing Critical Gaps in Breast Cancer Care: Tbilisi Hosts Key Patient Navigation Workshop

A significant multi-stakeholder Patient Navigation Workshop was recently convened in Tbilisi, Georgia, on December 17, 2025. Organized collaboratively by the WHO Country Office in Georgia and City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), the workshop focused on tackling the critical challenges in breast cancer care across Georgia, specifically aiming to ensure timely diagnosis and establish seamless patient journeys. This initiative addresses the pressing issue where breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Georgia, compounded by a prevalent rate of late-stage detection.

Expanding on the Workshop’s Focus

The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from government institutions, clinical services, research organizations, and patient advocacy groups, alongside healthcare providers and experts. Their collective efforts aimed to meticulously map the real-life journey of a patient from their first symptoms through to the completion of treatment. A primary objective was to identify existing barriers that contribute to diagnostic delays or disruptions in care. Furthermore, participants collaborated to co-create practical, locally relevant strategies designed to effectively guide patients through the complex healthcare system. The discussions also involved a review of global guidance and the sharing of both international and local experiences in patient navigation.

The overarching goal of the workshop was to strengthen breast cancer care pathways by integrating the WHO patient navigation framework with national priorities. This integration is crucial for ensuring that every patient receives timely care, which is expected to improve outcomes and survival rates. The workshop concluded with a consensus on priority actions for 2026, intended to advance patient navigation as a core component of the broader effort to achieve the targets set by the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative.

Addressing Georgia’s Breast Cancer Challenge

Breast cancer poses a substantial public health challenge in Georgia. It is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women across the country and ranks as the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among Georgia women, surpassed only by lung cancer. Data from 2015 indicated that 1838 new breast cancer cases were detected in Georgia, with an incidence rate of 94.7 per 100,000 population. For those diagnosed in 2015 who subsequently died, the one-year survival rate was 69%, and the five-year survival rate was 26%.

A significant concern highlighted is the higher mortality rates experienced by Black women with breast cancer in Georgia compared to white women. Research suggests that factors such as a lack of access to adequate healthcare, declining rates of mammography screening, and underlying medical conditions contribute to these disparities and to late-stage diagnoses. A late stage at diagnosis is identified as a predictor for lower survival times in Georgia. The workshop’s focus on timely diagnosis and effective patient navigation is thus directly aimed at mitigating these critical issues.

The Role of Patient Navigation

Patient navigation is a community-based service delivery intervention designed to promote access to timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases by eliminating barriers to care. A patient navigator is a professional who guides patients through the intricacies of the healthcare system, assisting them from screening and diagnosis through treatment and follow-up for medical conditions like cancer. These navigators play a vital role in facilitating communication between patients and their healthcare providers, empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health. They also assist with practical aspects such as scheduling appointments for doctor visits and medical tests, and help address basic needs.

Patient navigators are instrumental in overcoming various barriers to care, including challenges related to health literacy, language barriers, lack of transportation, or insufficient insurance coverage. They also strive to build and strengthen communication and relationships between patients and healthcare professionals, while simultaneously addressing psychosocial concerns for both the patient and their family. Studies have shown that patient navigation interventions can lead to a statistically significant reduction in patient distress and result in high patient satisfaction.

In Georgia, the Cancer Patient Navigators of Georgia (CPNG), established in 2009, serves as a statewide multi-disciplinary organization. Its mission is to connect, educate, and share best practices among patient navigators across the state to reduce barriers and increase access to cancer-related services.

Tbilisi’s Ongoing Commitment to Cancer Care

Tbilisi’s engagement with initiatives aimed at improving cancer care is not new. The capital city of Georgia became the first city in Eastern Europe to join the global C/Can network in 2019. Since then, the City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can) has collaborated with the Government of Georgia to establish improved policies for the quality of cancer care. Over a period of four years, more than 170 healthcare professionals, 100 patients, and 27 organizations have actively contributed to C/Can’s efforts in Tbilisi.

These efforts have included a comprehensive assessment of cancer care needs in the city, leading to the development of a City Roadmap for Cancer Care. C/Can initiatives in Tbilisi have focused on several key areas, such as expanding the list of cancer medicines covered by Georgia’s Universal Health Care, enhancing the National Cancer Registry, and improving standardization and guidelines for pathology laboratories and the management of breast and cervical cancer. Furthermore, the initiatives include continuous training for the cancer care workforce and the operationalization of multidisciplinary cancer care management teams. The C/Can initiative in Tbilisi is now transitioning towards a phase of national scale-up, operating under the direct leadership of the Ministry of Health.

Looking Ahead: Future Actions

The recent Patient Navigation Workshop in Tbilisi underscores a sustained commitment to enhancing cancer care outcomes in Georgia. By agreeing on priority actions for 2026, the WHO Country Office in Georgia, in collaboration with C/Can and local stakeholders, is setting a clear path forward. This aligns with broader global efforts, such as Rwanda making patient navigation a national priority and Mexico also having held a Patient Navigation Programme Development Workshop, indicating a growing international recognition of the vital role patient navigation plays in effective cancer management. The goal is to ensure that every patient in Georgia can access timely, quality care, ultimately improving survival rates and the overall patient experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What was the primary focus of the Patient Navigation Workshop in Tbilisi?

The primary focus of the Patient Navigation Workshop in Tbilisi was addressing critical challenges in breast cancer care in Georgia, specifically aiming to ensure timely diagnosis and establish seamless patient journeys.

When and where was the Patient Navigation Workshop held?

The Patient Navigation Workshop was recently convened in Tbilisi, Georgia, on December 17, 2025.

Who organized the Patient Navigation Workshop?

The workshop was collaboratively organized by the WHO Country Office in Georgia and City Cancer Challenge (C/Can).

What are the key challenges in breast cancer care in Georgia?

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Georgia, with a prevalent rate of late-stage detection. Late-stage diagnosis is identified as a predictor for lower survival times in Georgia. Mortality rates for Black women with breast cancer in Georgia are higher than for white women. A lack of access to adequate healthcare and declining rates of mammography screening also contribute to disparities.

What is patient navigation?

Patient navigation is a community-based service delivery intervention designed to promote access to timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases by eliminating barriers to care. A patient navigator is a professional who guides patients through the intricacies of the healthcare system, assisting them from screening and diagnosis through treatment and follow-up.

Key Features of the Patient Navigation Workshop in Tbilisi

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Tbilisi Workshop Focuses on Improving Breast Cancer Care Pathways