The health protection system of Moldova risks remaining without specialists and patients if it does not become efficient, considers the representative of the World Health Organization in Moldova Jarno Habicht.

Jarno Habicht has told IPN that qualitative changes are needed for the sake not of the Health Ministry, but of the people. “The primary medical institutions must reduce costs for large offices, without specialists. The doctors choose to work in institutions outfitted with modern medical equipment and appropriate work conditions. The health system must become efficient as no health ministry would want to make investments in a nonfunctional system,” said Jarno Habicht.

He also said that the latest changes brought about by creating excellence centers for specialists from primary medicine show that Moldova should switch to such a system. Otherwise, all the doctors will leave Moldova.

Contacted by IPN, Deputy Health Minister Octavian Grama admitted that such a risk exists partially, but said that Moldova already worked out a national program for reforming the primary health system by switching to financial autonomy and decentralizing the family doctors centers. This reform is financially supported by the World Bank and the WHO.

“As regards the hospital assistance, we surely need excellence centers and this thing is envisioned in the government program and the national health sector reform strategies,” he stated.

According to Octavian Grama, in Moldova there are 32 district hospitals, but only seven district and community hospitals are needed. “Thus, there will be a classification of the medical institutions into district, community hospitals and the rest of the hospitals will become excellence centers. We should better switch to university clinics, as in the West, where the students can do internship,” said Octavian Grama.

According to a study made by the Health Ministry, the health system of Moldova lost 40% of its specialists over the last 20 years. Most of then chose to work abroad.