Cancer treatments closer to people: health minister announces opening of more district oncological centers in Moldova by late 2025

Health Minister Ala Nemerenco has informed, at a public radio show, that the process of decentralizing chemotherapy services for cancer patients was well underway, and by the end of the 2025 year, more district hospitals would be able to provide this type of treatment.

“Opening these centers has been a difficult process. Initially, not everyone was open to decentralizing. We have to admit that, in some districts, we did not have trained oncologists. However, we ruled to proceed step by step, just as we did with stroke centers,” said Ala Nemerenco.

According to the minister, Floresti was the first district to adopt treatments starting from October 1, followed by Sangerei, with Orhei expected to become operational shortly.

“I issue orders for each district separately, as they become ready. Physicians who will work there were practically trained at the Oncology Institute. Simpler cases will be treated locally, while complicated ones will be handled in Chisinau. The goal is clear: to bring medical services as close to people as possible,” the minister said.

Nemerenco noted that the process was complex and costly, as some hospitals require major repairs to set modern equipment.

“At some institutions, we had to fully redo the electrical networks and walls. It was impossible to install a CT scanner there. Nevertheless, we are moving forward, and each district will have a functional center. It is hard work, but necessary,” she added.

The minister acknowledged that the lack of oncologists in some districts stayed a real problem.

“Unfortunately, we do not have oncologists in all districts. In these cases, patients will be directed to a neighboring district, which is closer than Chisinau. Importantly, no one should have to travel hundreds of kilometers for an infusion,” Nemerenco specified.

To facilitate patients’ treatment, the Health Ministry also changed contracts with the National Health Insurance Company, so that patients coming for short treatments can be hospitalized.

“Previously, only fixed seven-day hospitalizations were allowed. We changed the rules: now even two days of treatment are paid for. It is important to be flexible, because cancer patients have diverse and real needs,” said the minister.

Ala Nemerenco announced that, for the first time, Moldova would have an iodine therapy center for treating thyroid cancer at the Oncology Institute.

“This is an expensive treatment that our patients previously underwent in Romania, Ukraine, or Turkey. We have identified financial resources and hope that, next year, we will have iodine therapy available in Chisinau,” the minister noted.

At the same time, Moldova has been accepted into an international platform for pediatric cancer treatment, which will allow free access to medication for children with cancer.

“We have made great efforts, along with the Oncology Institute, and have been accepted into a global platform dedicated to treating cancer in children. The first batches of free medication will arrive in the country at the beginning of next year. This is a huge step for our medical system,” emphasized Nemerenco.

The minister noted that the most common types of cancer Moldova were breast and colorectal cancer, with causes related to lifestyle, pollution and unhealthy diet.

“We have a sedentary lifestyle, unbalanced diet and exposure to harmful factors. All these lead to an increase in the incidence of oncological diseases. Therefore, we have developed screening programmes for early detection,” the minister said.

She said that over 17,000 people had been tested for colorectal cancer in 2024, with many cases being detected in early stages.

“Detecting cancer in stage one means a life saved. It benefits the patient and the medical system, as treatments are shorter, less costly and with a high chance of full recovery,” concluded Ala Nemerenco.

In Moldova, oncological diseases represent one of the leading causes of death, with a continuous increase over the last decade. According to data by the Health Ministry and the Oncology Institute, over 10,000 new cancer cases are registered each year and approximately 5,000 people lose their lives because of these diseases. The most common forms of cancer are breast, colorectal, lung and cervical cancer.

Experts warn that over 60 per cent of cancer cases are detected in advanced stages, when the chances of recovery decrease significantly.