How to Verify the Qualification of a Georgian Hospital | Official Channels & Identification Methods

Consultation Scenario: Users repeatedly ask, "Does this hospital in Georgia actually have legal qualifications?"

A 38-year-old patient sent a brochure from a reproductive center in Georgia, which stated it was "approved by the Georgian Ministry of Health" and "legally conducts IVF and surrogacy." She asked: "How can I verify if this hospital is really approved? Besides the promotional materials, are there any official channels I can check myself?"

A Direct Answer: Four Reliable Ways to Verify Georgian Hospital Qualifications

The qualifications of Georgian assisted reproductive hospitals can be verified through the following official channels without relying on intermediaries or the hospital's unilateral claims:

• Georgian National Medical Regulatory Agency (LMA) Official Website — This is the most core official channel. The LMA is responsible for issuing and publicizing medical institution licenses. Go to the website, find the "Medical Practice License Database" or "List of Registered Medical Institutions," enter the hospital's full name or registration number to see if it is listed.
• Georgian Ministry of Health Public Information — Some emergency or special permits can also be checked on the Ministry of Health website. Note the difference between "registration" and "license." A legal hospital must have both a registration certificate and a special permit for assisted reproduction.
• JCI / ISO International Certification Verification — If a hospital claims to have JCI or ISO certification, you can confirm it on the JCI official website (Quality Check) or the ISO certification body's website by entering the hospital name. These certifications are not mandatory, but having them usually indicates standardized management.
• Chinese Embassy in Georgia / Consulate Recommendations or Records — Some embassies publish lists of local compliant medical institutions, which can serve as a supplementary reference.

B Why Does This Problem Arise

Since Georgia allowed commercial surrogacy in 1997, it has attracted a large number of overseas patients. However, after 2019, the Georgian government strengthened supervision of assisted reproductive institutions, and some small clinics had their licenses revoked for failing to meet the new standards. At the same time, there are phenomena of "affiliating with" or "borrowing" qualifications in the market. Users see approval numbers on promotional materials but cannot judge their authenticity, hence the need to master independent verification methods.

C What Doctors Say

A reproductive doctor who has practiced in Georgia for many years pointed out: "Our hospital submits operational reports to the LMA every quarter, and health inspectors conduct unannounced on-site inspections. Patients can give me the clinic name or registration number, and I can directly check the system for them, but I recommend patients learn to check themselves—it's a basic right."

D Differences Across Age Groups

Age is not a factor affecting qualification verification, but patients of different ages have varying levels of vigilance regarding qualification issues. Patients under 35 are more likely to trust promotional materials, patients aged 35-42 tend to verify through multiple sources, while patients over 42, due to time constraints, are more likely to overlook the verification step. Regardless of age, it is recommended to make qualification verification the first filter before making a decision.

E Differences Across Countries

The mechanism for verifying hospital qualifications in Georgia differs from that in European and American countries:

F Differences Across Hospitals

In Georgia, large reproductive centers (such as Tbilisi Reproductive Center, GAGA Reproductive Center, etc.) usually hold the "Assisted Reproduction Special Permit" and "Laboratory License" issued by the LMA. Small clinics may only have a general medical institution registration certificate without a separate assisted reproduction permit. When checking the LMA, pay attention to whether the "Scope of Services" column explicitly lists keywords like "IVF," "ICSI," or "Surrogacy."

G Most Easily Overlooked Details

• Clinic Name Spelling Variations: The LMA database uses Georgian and English. Use the official registered name when searching (e.g., "Georgia Fertility Centre" not "Georgia Fertility Center").
• License Validity Period: Some hospitals were once legal but their licenses have expired or been suspended. Check the status column for "Active" or "Expired."
• Laboratory Qualification: Embryology labs require a separate license. Many patients only check the hospital's overall qualification, neglecting whether the lab is compliant. You can supplement the search in the LMA database using keywords like "embryology lab" or "IVF lab."
• Special Surrogacy Permit: Georgia allows surrogacy, but not all hospitals with IVF qualifications have a surrogacy permit on file. If surrogacy is involved, confirm whether the hospital holds the surrogacy service registration document.

H Most Common Pitfalls

• Using "International Association Membership" as Qualification: Some hospitals advertise being "ESHRE members" or "ASRM members." These are just academic organization memberships and do not represent local government permission.
• Providing Vague Approval Document Photos: Some intermediaries provide pictures of hospital licenses, but the images may be photoshopped or cropped. Request the hospital registration number and verify it yourself on the official website.
• Claiming "Government Cooperation Projects": The Georgian government does not sign "cooperation projects" with any private hospitals; all clinics apply for licenses independently.
• Relying Solely on Embassy Recommendations: The list published by the embassy may be outdated or incomplete and cannot replace verification on the LMA website.

I Actual Process

1. Obtain the full name of the hospital (preferably in Georgian or the official English name).
2. Visit the Georgian National Medical Regulatory Agency (LMA) website: https://lma.gov.ge/ (recommend using Google Chrome's auto-translate feature).
3. Find the "Medical Practice License Register" entry on the homepage and click to enter the search page.
4. Enter the hospital name or registration number (the registration number is usually on the hospital's lobby signboard).
5. Check the "Status," "Validity Period," and "Scope of Services" in the search results.
6. If surrogacy is needed, also search for the hospital or surrogacy agency name in the "List of Registered Surrogacy Agencies."
7. Record the license number and validity period, and compare them with the hospital's promotional materials.
8. If JCI certification is claimed, log in to the JCI Quality Check official website and enter the hospital name to confirm again.

J Time Arrangement

The qualification verification itself takes only 10-20 minutes, but it is recommended to do it at the following stages:

• Initial Screening Stage: After gathering information on 5-6 hospitals, take half a day to check them all at once.
• Before Decision-Making: Even if the intermediary has provided qualification documents, verify them yourself again.
• Before Signing the Contract: Log in to the LMA again to confirm the license status has not changed (e.g., not expired or revoked).

K Cost Influencing Factors

The qualification verification itself is free. However, failing to verify qualifications and choosing the wrong hospital may involve:

• Costs of ineffective treatment (if the hospital lacks legal qualifications, subsequent legal risks are high).
• Financial losses due to invalid surrogacy contracts.
• Additional expenses for transferring to another hospital, redoing examinations, and re-inducing ovulation.

L Interpretation of Check Indicators

Here, "indicators" are extended to "qualification judgment items":

• License Status = "Active" and validity period over one year: Basically reliable.
• License Status = "Pending Renewal": Need to confirm if it is being updated; you can call the LMA for consultation.
• License Scope Does Not Include "IVF": Can only perform artificial insemination or other gynecological surgeries, not IVF.
• JCI Certification Status = "Accredited": Means medical quality and management processes meet international standards.

M Case Scenario Analysis

Scenario 1: Patient A was recommended a hospital by an intermediary, who sent a photo of a license with an official stamp. Patient A refused to verify and paid a deposit directly. Later, it was discovered that the hospital name on the license did not match the actual operating name (a similar name was used). Result: Treatment was halted by local regulators midway, and the deposit was non-refundable.

Scenario 2: Patient B checked three hospitals on the LMA website and found that one hospital's license had expired six months ago but was still operating. Patient B abandoned that hospital and chose another with a valid license and JCI certification. Result: Treatment went smoothly, and the surrogacy procedures were legal and compliant.

N Handling Special Situations

• Website inaccessible or only in Georgian: Use the mobile version or call the LMA (+995 32 2 94 00 00) to request English service. You can also entrust a local notary for a paid verification.
• Hospital refuses to provide registration number: Directly consider it a high-risk institution and do not continue communication.
• License photo does not match official website information: Immediately stop all payments and report to the LMA.

O Suitable Audience

All patients planning to undergo assisted reproductive treatment in Georgia, especially suitable for:

• Those new to overseas IVF and unfamiliar with the local regulatory system.
• Those contacting hospitals through intermediaries or referrals and need independent verification.
• Those involved in surrogacy programs needing to confirm the hospital has a special surrogacy permit.
• Those with doubts about their current hospital seeking third-party objective evidence.

P Unsuitable Audience

Patients who have already verified qualifications and have no new doubts do not need to repeat the check. However, it is recommended to spot-check every six months, as licenses may be revoked or not renewed.

Q Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Can you provide the website for checking Georgian hospital qualifications?
  A: https://lma.gov.ge/ is the official regulatory body. The Ministry of Health website sometimes updates, but the LMA is the authoritative source.
• Q: The intermediary says their partner hospital is registered with the Ministry of Health. How to verify?
  A: Ask for the registration number and search "hospital name + registration number" in the LMA database. If not found, ask the intermediary for earlier official documents.
• Q: Is JCI certification mandatory?
  A: No. Georgian law only requires an LMA license to conduct assisted reproduction. JCI is a bonus, not a hard requirement.
• Q: Are there any black-market hospitals in Georgia?
  A: Yes. After the 2022 crackdown in Georgia, about 10 clinics had their licenses canceled or suspended. Verification is essential.

R Observations from Practitioners

As a medical editor working in the overseas assisted reproduction industry for nearly 10 years, I have seen too many cases of people falling into traps because they were "too lazy to check qualifications." Many patients are attracted by beautiful websites and low-cost packages, even paying the full amount based on just a few WeChat messages. Georgia's regulatory system is relatively transparent; spending just over ten minutes searching on the official website can avoid most problems. Checking qualifications is not about distrust, but about being responsible for yourself.

Risk Reminder

The verification methods provided in this article are only applicable to current public channels. The Georgian government may adjust the website structure or database content, so it is recommended to confirm the link's availability again before making a decision. Some hospitals may have a "license hanging" situation—where the address on the license differs from the actual operating address—requiring on-site inspection or third-party due diligence. Most importantly: if any abnormality is found during the check, stop all further actions immediately and consult an independent legal advisor.