10 minutes with Professor Amiran Gamkrelidze, Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia

Amiran, Gamkrelidze Walsh Kieran

Introduction In this brief interview Professor Amiran Gamkrelidze, Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, explains his leadership role in the pandemic response and shares what he has learnt so far. What are the key leadership messages you want to get out to the BMJ Leader readership? [...]far, Georgia has performed well in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.1 The number of cases has remained relatively low and the health sector has managed to keep the outbreak under control. The NCDC strategic priorities are as follows: reduction of morbidity and mortality caused by communicable and non-communicable diseases;assessment and reduction of environmental hazards and behavioural risk factors and so improvement in population health;development of fundamental and applied biomedical and biotechnological scientific research;strengthening of preparedness capacities for a rapid and effective response to public health threats;development of electronic information systems;and the development of better public healthcare system management. [...]far, the people of Georgia have responded very well, but we also need to be prepared for a second wave if it occurs and to be ready to take further preventive measures.