Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has addressed the Prime Minister of Georgia to ensure equal realization of the rights of all persons legitimately living in the occupied territories and to allow the persons with neutral ID cards to get involved in the state program on hepatitis C. 

''Residents of the occupied territories belong to a particularly vulnerable category, which have to live in poor social, economic and human rights situation. Ambulatory centers and clinics are in poor conditions, the number of qualified doctors is low. The residents have to overcome a lot of barriers to cross the occupation line. The Public Defender considers that under the mentioned circumstances, Georgia has a positive obligation to protect the health and social rights of persons living in the occupied territories and provide medical care for everyone without distinction. The state must respect everyone's right to health and must not restrict equal access to health services for certain persons, especially for the most vulnerable categories'', is noted in the statement. 

Source: ombudsman.ge