The Georgian Dream government is creating a unified information database of individuals with mental health issues, alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or substance abuse. The corresponding amendment has been introduced into the Law of Georgia on Psychiatric Care.
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According to the amendments, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia must, by 1 March 2026, ensure the collection of data on persons with mental health issues from relevant state and private institutions and the entry of persons with mental health problems, alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or substance abuse into a unified information database.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will be actively involved in the process of creating the database. By March 1, the government, upon the proposal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, must establish the rules for the creation and production of the database, as well as for obtaining data contained in it and processing personal data.
According to Article 26 of the Law on Psychiatric Care, confidential information on the mental condition of a person shall be available for persons directly involved in the process of his/her treatment and scientific research. The following paragraphs will be added to this Article:
- Data on an individual's mental health will be recorded in a unified information database for people with mental health issues, alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or substance abuse.
- Access to data from the unified information database of persons with mental health issues, alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or substance abuse is granted by relevant institutions in cases specified by law.
Today, confidential information about a person's mental state can be disclosed to a third party with the patient's or their legal representative's consent, or by court order.
On December 9, the Georgian Dream parliament approved a package of legislative amendments, including amendments to the Law on Weapons and 14 other laws. Among these was the Law on Psychiatric Care.
The explanatory note states that due to the lack of a comprehensive information base on individuals with mental health issues, "the state is unable to properly implement the effective functioning of mechanisms aimed at public safety."
For example, a challenge is determining whether a person’s health condition complies with the requirements defined by Georgian legislation when providing important services such as issuing a license (permit) under the Law of Georgia on Weapons, granting the right to carry service firearms, granting the right to drive a vehicle, and others. Possession of such a license or right carries increased risk and requires ongoing verification that the holder's health continuously meets legal standards, as explained in the draft law's explanatory note.
The legislative amendments were drafted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and registered with the Parliament in July 2024.
