Primary healthcare reform: Ministry of Health assures that no medical center will be closed and access to services remains free of charge

The Ministry of Health has presented the new regulations for organizing primary healthcare, approved by Order No. 436, a document aimed at strengthening community-level medical services, increasing the population’s access to quality care, and improving the efficiency of medical institution management. The authorities emphasized that the reform does not provide for the closure of medical institutions and will not affect citizens’ access to services.

The head of the Primary and Community Care Policy Section within the Ministry of Health, Luminita Avornic, stated that the new regulations focus on prevention, patient monitoring, and continuity of medical care.

“This document represents an important step in strengthening primary healthcare, with the objective of increasing the population’s access to quality, efficient medical services adapted to community needs, with an emphasis on disease prevention, patient monitoring, and ensuring continuity of medical care,” said Luminita Avornic.

Family doctor, pediatrician, and obstetrician-gynecologist services will continue to be provided free of charge, and in the case of socially conditioned diseases, pulmonology (TB) and psychiatric services will also be offered free of charge. Special emphasis is placed on vulnerable population groups. “Particular attention is given to vulnerable groups through home visits for pregnant women, children, persons with severe disabilities, and other categories requiring additional support.

At the same time, measures are envisaged to improve the quality and safety of medical services, to digitalize processes, and to strengthen cooperation between medical institutions,” the representative of the Ministry of Health added. The new provisions also strengthen the role of Regional Health Centers, which will coordinate the activity of healthcare service providers in the territory and will monitor the implementation of priority programs. “The Regional Health Center will be responsible for coordinating the activity of all healthcare service providers in the territory, for monitoring the provision of medical services, and for implementing priority programs. It will also be responsible for primary healthcare activities in priority areas such as maternal and child health, mental health, and youth health,” Avornic noted.

The official was keen to reject speculation about possible closures of medical institutions. “I would like to emphasize a very important aspect: this order does not provide for the closure of medical institutions and does not limit the population’s access to medical services. Health centers, family doctor offices, and health offices will continue their activity in localities, and any administrative changes concern exclusively the streamlining of the organization of medical services and the improvement of their management,” said Luminita Avornic. An example of the reform’s implementation was presented by the head of Health Center No. 1 Orhei, Iurie Lupacescu. He mentioned that, following the reorganization, nine health centers were integrated into the institution he manages, without affecting employees.

“As a result of the reform, no one lost out, neither medical staff nor auxiliary staff. Everything provided for in the regulation and in the order of the Ministry of Health is being implemented step by step. Patients have benefited, because twice a week, in every health office and family doctor office, the family doctor is present and patients are served where they live,” stated Lupacescu. He explained that patients in rural areas no longer need to travel to the district center for laboratory tests.

“They do not need to go to the district to undergo medical or laboratory investigations. Blood is collected on site and transported under special conditions to the district center, where the analyses are carried out. Afterwards, the results are sent back to the health offices to be used in determining treatment,” explained the director of Health Center No. 1 Orhei. He insisted that the reform has not generated job losses or salary cuts.

“No one has lost either their salary or their job. Everyone remains in service, except for those who did not wish to be part of the new structure. To make progress and bring quality medical services closer to citizens, such reforms are necessary,” said Lupacescu. According to him, reactions in the territory are largely positive, both from patients and medical staff. “We were among the first to start this reform, and I want to tell you that from the very first days both citizens and medical workers have been satisfied with the beginning of this reform. Of course, we need time and funding to bring all health offices up to the required level so that services are provided in safe and quality conditions,” concluded Iurie Lupacescu.

The new regulations for organizing primary healthcare aim to modernize the medical service network, use resources more efficiently, and bring health services closer to communities, especially in rural areas.