Nicolae Testemitanu Medical University of Moldova, Swiss Red Cross sign agreement on training of resident students, physicians, pharmacists

The Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (USMF) and the Swiss Red Cross have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at training resident students, physicians, pharmacists and healthcare practitioners. The actions are meant to improve the management of quality in health and facilitate access for vulnerable groups to medical services.

The agreement was signed by Vice-Rector, Vice-Rector for academic affairs and academic management Olga Cernetchi and Viorel Gorceag, country representative of the Swiss Red Cross.

Based on this, the sides will develop joint projects that include: evaluation of the university curriculum at all levels of training in priority fields, such as: surgery, family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, hygiene, infectious diseases, dentistry, pharmacy, philosophy and bioethics, mental health and others; strengthening the curricula by adjusting and developing updated educational tools; training students, master's degree students and medical and pharmaceutical staff in such areas as patients’ rights, health communication and evidence-based decision making, as well as providing methodological, technical and financial support for implementing the planned activities.

Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi specified that, in recent years, curricula and educational plans had been constantly revised, in order to align them with European standards and include the phrase regarding the particularities of individuals with special needs, and national clinical protocols contain sections dedicated to their care and approach.

‘’Today, we can confidently say that our programmes fully comply with European directives,’’ Professor Olga Cernetchi pointed out.

For his part, Viorel Gorceag emphasized the importance of this partnership, which is particularly valuable.

‘’We aspire to have an equitable and accessible healthcare system for everybody. We focus, in particular, on patients and involving them in the decision-making process, so that everyone's voice is heard. Another important element of the project is integrity in health, a component that is part of the agenda of activities for strengthening the integrity of medical institutions,’’ Viorel Gorceag emphasized.

The partnership is being carried out within the project, Moldova: Equity in Health through Social Accountability II (2024–2027), implemented by the Swiss Red Cross, in collaboration with the HOMECARE Association and the CASMED Association, with financial support on behalf of the Swiss Government.