World Health Organisation supports promotion of healthcare reforms in Moldova

Chisinau, 11 April /MOLDPRES/ – Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, has met today with director of European Regional Office of World Health Organisation (WHO), Nedret Emiroglu, paying a visit to Moldova on the 5th issue of Gala Healthcare Prize. The event is organised in context of World Health Day (WHD), focusing in 2018 upon universal coverage of healthcare services and the 70th anniversary of WHO's founding, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

The Prime Minister congratulated WHO official on organisation's anniversary and expressed gratitude for constant support given to Moldova within reforming of healthcare system. "Possessing medical services of quality means ensuring living standards of population. The funds invested into healthcare must be spent very efficiently," said Pavel Filip.

The Head of Executive stated that collaborative directions with WHO coincide with Government's priorities and healthcare reform agenda. The main reforms concern public health, primary care and hospital sector.

Pavel Filip mentioned that public healthare reform started already. However, it was created a new institution – National Agency for Public Healthcare (ANSP), which, additionally to health and communicable diseases' control, puts a growing emphasis on promoting healthy lifestyles.

The rest two reforms are under preparation. On primary medicine, there is a vision providing more attention to promotion of individual medical practice. In parallel, Government is also strengthening emergency service by investing into infrastructure, including procurement of new ambulances, with necessary resources planned in budget 2018. Full functional primary healthcare and well – equipped emergency services are prerequisites for reforming hospital sector. In this context, Pavel Filip referred on importance of WHO's support and expertise in reform of primary medicine and hospital sector.

The Director of the European Regional Office of WHO praised Government for healthcare – promoting reforms, confirming willingness of WHO to further support Moldova in increasing access of persons to medical services of quality. Related to it, Nedret Emiroglu mentioned significance of exact projects, viewing both treatment of diseases and their prevention.

The coorpeation between Moldova and WHO is guided by the signed Biennial Agreements. In February 2018, the Collaboration Agreement for 2018 – 2019 was signed with a total budget $3.5 million. The Republic of Moldova is the member of WHO commencing 1992.