Urology in Georgia: kidney stones, prostate and other surgery for international patients

What does urology cover, and which cases do patients come to Georgia for?

A urologist treats diseases of the urinary system (the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra) and of the male reproductive organs. International patients most often ask us for quotes on the following:

• Kidney and ureteric stones, when a stone will not pass on its own or causes pain and infection;
• An enlarged prostate that makes urination difficult and can no longer be controlled well enough with medication;
• Urinary incontinence and reconstructive surgery, for example for a narrowing of the urethra;
• Andrology, including tests for male infertility, which are often part of planning IVF treatment;
• Urological tumours (of the prostate, bladder and kidney), which are planned according to oncology practice and described in our oncology guide.

Which procedure is needed in a particular case, if any, is decided by your urologist and the doctor at the receiving clinic. We neither assess your diagnosis nor recommend a technique.

How is a urology visit organised with our help?

The steps are the same as in other specialities. First, we read your records with an organisational eye: are the files legible, and is anything missing? Then, with your approval, they go to licensed clinics that provide urology, and their doctors describe the plan and the price in writing; this part is handled by our clinic selection service. Once you have chosen a clinic, your personal coordinator agrees the dates, meets you at the airport, arranges your accommodation and transport, and on discharge collects copies of your records and their translation.

The coordinator works in English or Russian. If you would like to speak to the doctor in another language, we book a medical interpreter; where possible, and at your request, we look for an interpreter of the same sex, as urological consultations and examinations often touch on intimate matters. We cannot guarantee this in advance, but we will tell you what is available before you book.

Kidney stones: what should you know before you travel?

How a stone is treated depends on its size, location and density and on your general health. Treatment may be shock wave lithotripsy from outside the body, an endoscopic procedure through the urinary tract, or access to the kidney through a small incision in the skin. The surgeon decides which technique to use based on a recent CT scan and an examination on site.

Stents: plan the removal in advance

After some procedures, the urologist leaves a temporary stent, a thin, soft tube, in the ureter so that urine can drain freely. The stent must be removed after a set period, so at the quote stage we already ask the clinic: is a stent likely, for how long, and where will it be removed? If it is to be removed in Georgia, your visit is extended or a second short visit is planned; if in your own country, you must inform your urologist at home in advance and give them a translated operation report. A stent left in beyond its time is dangerous to your health, so write the removal date in your own calendar too.

Stone analysis

If the stone or its fragments are removed, the clinic may analyse their composition. Ask whether this is included in the price and when the result will be ready: your doctor at home needs it to plan how to prevent new stones.

Prostate surgery: catheter, histology and length of stay

For an enlarged prostate, the urologist chooses the technique, whether endoscopic, laser or another, based on the size of the prostate, urination tests and your general health. Before the procedure, the doctor almost always asks for your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) results over time to rule out a tumour; if you have these results, send them to us with their dates.

After surgery a urinary catheter often stays in for a few days. The surgeon decides whether you can fly with a catheter, whether you must stay in Georgia until it is removed and who will remove it. Based on that answer, we plan your accommodation and, if needed, nurse visits through our post-operative care service.

The removed tissue is usually sent for histological examination, and the result may arrive after you have been discharged. Agree in advance how you will receive it at home: by email, through your coordinator or in a remote consultation. If the histology shows an unexpected result, we arrange a discussion of it with your doctor, with an interpreter.

Kidney transplant and dialysis: what is and is not possible

That is why on this page we neither name clinics nor request quotes for transplants. If anyone has offered you a transplant, consult a doctor and a lawyer in your own country first.

If you are on dialysis and coming to Georgia for another reason, for example to visit family or for a urological procedure, our dialysis guide for travellers describes the practical side of scheduling your sessions. Under Georgian law, dialysis is one of the procedures that require the patient's written consent.

Which test results does a Georgian urologist need?

• Imaging: ultrasound report, CT scan (for stones often without contrast), MRI if one was done, with the DICOM files;
• Urine and blood tests, including creatinine and, if infection is suspected, a urine culture result;
• PSA results with their dates, if you are coming about a prostate problem;
• Urination tests: uroflowmetry and post-void residual volume, if your doctor has already ordered them;
• Cystoscopy or previous surgery reports and the stone analysis result, if one was done before;
• Current medicines, especially blood thinners and diabetes medication, as the doctor decides what to do about them before surgery;
• Your questions: what concerns you most and how much time you have for the trip.

Reports can be in any language: if needed, our imaging report translation service will translate them into English or Georgian.

How do we check a clinic's permit?

Under Georgian rules, an inpatient facility operates under a permit and certain medical activities under a licence; both are issued by the state regulator, the Regulation Agency for Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities, under Government Resolution No. 385 of 2010. The annex to the resolution that sets additional requirements for inpatient facilities with a specific profile contains no separate conditions for urology, so we ask the clinic under which permit and in which department the procedure it offers you will be performed.

We could not find a public online register where patients can look up a permit themselves. So we ask the clinic for the documents directly before passing on your records, and we note in the comparison table what it has provided. We present a clinic's statement about international accreditation as its own claim. Other criteria for assessing a clinic are in our guide to choosing a clinic.

What makes up the price in a urology quote?

We do not publish prices, because they depend on the technique, the clinic and your condition. Below are the items we look for when reading a urology quote.

You pay the clinic's bill directly at the clinic, while our coordination fee is set out in a separate written agreement that we sign before starting work. We find out from the clinic before you arrive which cards or transfers it accepts, and we do not promise a particular payment method in advance. More details: costs and payment.

Insurance, flying home and continuing treatment at home

A condition of entry to Georgia is a health and accident policy that covers your entire visit, with cover of at least GEL 30,000. Such a policy does not usually pay for planned urological surgery, but it may help with an unexpected event unrelated to the operation. We explain what the policy should state in our insurance guide.

Your treating urologist confirms the day you fly, especially if a catheter or stent is still in place. Before discharge, we ask them for a written list: which signs (for example, a high temperature or being unable to pass urine) need emergency help, and whom to call. While you are in Georgia, the emergency number is 112.

Give your urologist at home the operation report, the discharge summary, the stone analysis or histology result and the stent removal date. You receive copies of your records from the clinic on written request, and the translation is prepared by our team for discharge summary and operation report translation. When you take home ordinary medicines prescribed after surgery, customs does not require any paperwork for up to ten packs; for a larger supply, carry your doctor's prescription.

Frequently asked questions about urology in Georgia