Georgia operates a unified emergency number 112 that connects callers to police, medical, and fire services. The system launched in 2011 with English-speaking operators available at all times. Calls are free from any phone including mobiles without SIM cards. Response times in Tbilisi average 10-15 minutes for medical emergencies according to Emergency Management Service data from 2022, though times increase substantially outside the capital. Batumi and Kutaisi maintain secondary response centers with dedicated ambulance services. Rural areas including Tusheti, Svaneti, and parts of Kakheti may experience response times exceeding two hours, particularly during winter when roads close.
The Emergency Management Service operates under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and coordinates all first response activities. Medical emergency transport uses Soviet-era ambulances in many regions though Tbilisi received 50 Mercedes-Benz ambulances in 2019. Ambulance crews consist of a driver, paramedic, and occasionally a physician depending on the emergency classification. Critical cases in Tbilisi are transported to the Emergency Cardiology Center or Tbilisi State Medical University Multiprofile Clinic. Batumi ambulances route to Batumi Medical Center Medcenter or Batumi Republican Hospital. Payment is not required before transport though patients receive bills afterward unless they hold Georgian state insurance.
Police assistance operates through the same 112 system with separate dispatch routing. The Georgian police force reformed extensively between 2004 and 2012, eliminating most traffic police in favor of patrol police who handle all street-level incidents. Tourist Police units operate in Tbilisi Old Town, Batumi Boulevard, and Sighnaghi during tourist season from May through October. These units include officers with English language training specifically assigned to assist foreign visitors. The main police station in Tbilisi sits at 10 Chichinadze Street near Freedom Square. Batumi's central station is located at 2 Ninoshvili Street. Officers do not typically speak languages beyond Georgian and Russian outside designated tourist areas.
Fire services integrate into the 112 system with stations in all major cities. Tbilisi maintains 15 fire stations with Station 1 at 6 Sarajishvili Street serving the central districts. Batumi operates 4 fire stations with the main facility at 81 Chavchavadze Avenue. Response capacity in mountainous regions is limited. Mestia has one fire station serving all of Svaneti, and Stepantsminda has basic equipment serving Kazbegi National Park area. Most traditional mountain villages including Ushguli, Shatili, and settlements in Tusheti have no fire response infrastructure. Buildings in these areas rely on community response to structure fires.
Georgia operates a mixed public-private healthcare system reformed in 2013 under Universal Healthcare Program. The program covers Georgian citizens and residents through state insurance but does not extend to tourists. Private payment or travel insurance is required for non-residents. Tbilisi contains the highest concentration of medical facilities including Tbilisi State Medical University Multiprofile Clinic at 9 Vazha-Pshavela Avenue, which handles complex procedures and serves as a teaching hospital. Aversi Clinic operates multiple locations throughout Tbilisi with 24-hour emergency rooms. New Hospitals operates facilities in both Tbilisi and Batumi. National Center for Disease Control and Public Health at 99 Kakheti Highway manages infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Batumi medical infrastructure centers on Batumi Republican Hospital at 17 Khimshiashvili Street and Medcenter Batumi at 10 Ninoshvili Street. Both facilities maintain emergency departments and can handle trauma, cardiac emergencies, and surgical intervention. Kutaisi Regional Hospital serves western Georgia from 67 Tsereteli Street. These three cities account for essentially all advanced medical capability in the country. Secondary cities including Gori, Telavi, and Zugdidi have basic hospitals that can stabilize patients before transport to larger facilities.
Pharmacies operate throughout Georgia under the name "აფთიაქი" (aptiaki) marked by green cross signs. Tbilisi has hundreds of pharmacies with many open 24 hours particularly along Rustaveli Avenue and near Freedom Square. PSP Pharmacy and Aversi Pharmacy operate the largest chains with locations nationwide. Prescription enforcement is inconsistent. Many medications requiring prescriptions in Western countries including antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and some controlled substances are available over the counter. Pharmacists often speak Russian and occasionally English in Tbilisi and Batumi. No foreign prescription is legally recognized though pharmacists may accept them as guidance.
Medical evacuation from remote areas presents significant challenges. Helicopter medical evacuation exists in theory through the Border Police helicopter fleet, but actual deployment requires ministerial approval and typically occurs only for Georgian citizens. The nearest hyperbaric chambers for diving emergencies are located in Batumi Military Hospital and Tbilisi State Medical University. Mountain rescue operations in Kazbegi, Svaneti, and Tusheti are coordinated by local guides and the Emergency Management Service, but helicopter availability depends on weather and military clearance. Rescue from Tusheti is particularly difficult as the region becomes completely inaccessible from November through April when Abano Pass closes.
Physicians in Georgia complete six years of medical education at institutions including Tbilisi State Medical University, David Tvildiani Medical University, or Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University. Residency programs range from three to five years depending on specialty. Medical practice standards follow European protocols though equipment availability varies dramatically between Tbilisi private clinics and regional hospitals. Blood supply is managed through National Center for Transfusiology and Hematology at 27 Lado Asatiani Street in Tbilisi. All blood donations undergo HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis screening according to 2015 regulations. Hospital-acquired infection rates are higher than Western European averages according to 2019 data from National Center for Disease Control, though specific facility rates are not published.
Georgia operates three major mobile networks: Magticom, Silknet, and Beeline. Magticom holds the largest market share with coverage reaching approximately 95% of the population according to 2022 company data. Coverage in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi is continuous across all carriers. The Black Sea coast has full coverage from Sarpi at the Turkish border north to Poti. Kakheti wine region including Telavi, Sighnaghi, and Kvareli maintains good coverage along main roads. Mountain coverage degrades significantly with elevation and remoteness.
Stepantsminda and villages along the Georgian Military Highway have intermittent coverage up to approximately 2,800 meters. Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 meters usually has signal but Juta Valley coverage is spotty. Svaneti coverage exists in Mestia and along the main road to Ushguli, but the village itself has minimal to no coverage depending on exact location and carrier. Tusheti has effectively no mobile coverage except occasional weak signal near Omalo when weather permits. Satellite phones are not restricted and can be purchased or rented in Tbilisi at outdoor equipment shops.
SIM cards are available at mobile carrier shops, convenience stores, and kiosks throughout Georgia. Purchase requires passport presentation and registration under 2014 regulations intended to reduce spam and fraud. Tourist SIM cards are available at Tbilisi International Airport from all three carriers. Magticom offers packages starting at 10 GEL providing 1GB data and 100 minutes. Prices for larger packages scale to approximately 40 GEL for 10GB data and 500 minutes. Silknet and Beeline offer similar pricing. All three carriers provide 4G coverage in major cities with 3G in secondary areas. SIM cards expire after periods of inactivity ranging from 90 to 180 days depending on carrier.
Internet cafes have largely disappeared from Georgia as smartphone penetration reached 67% by 2021 according to Georgian National Communications Commission. WiFi is standard in hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in tourist areas. Tbilisi coffee shops and coworking spaces including Impact Hub at 7 Erekle II Square and Terminal at 6 Kipshidze Street provide reliable internet for travelers. Upload speeds are generally slower than download speeds with typical Tbilisi residential connections offering 50-100 Mbps download and 10-20 Mbps upload. Rural areas rely on mobile data or slower DSL connections where available.