Moldova received a consignment of medicines intended for patients with cancer. The lot to the value of over US$155,000 was donated by the International Organization for Migration and the Government of Japan, IPN reports.
According to the director of the Oncological Institute of Chisinau Ruslan Baltaga, the Russo-Ukrainian war generated difficulties in the supply of medicines and affected the drug importation logistics. “At the moment, the Oncological Institute supervises 245 refugees with cancer. The funds of the National Health Insurance Company can be used to cover only medical-surgical needs. For the rest of the cases of complex treatment and continuation of treatment, relocation to an EU member state, the UK or Norway, is offered, but not all the refugees want or can be transferred. For those who want to stay in the Republic of Moldova, methods of support and treatment in Moldova or circular treatment methods, such as Moldova-Romania circular treatment, are being looked for,” stated Ruslan Baltaga.
Speaking about the health system in the Republic of Moldova and the flow of Ukrainian refugees to the country, Raphael Robelin, IOM Emergency Coordinator, said the provision of specialized medical services, including treatment for cancer, placed major pressure on the national health budget due to the cost of treatment and the lack of the necessary medicines. Therefore, the International Organization for Migration in Moldova donated to the Oncological Institute the most necessary medicines and consumables used to treat cancer. The provided medicines will ensure the continuity of oncological treatment in the Republic of Moldova.
The head of the Ministry of Health’s Integrated Medical Services Policies Division Ion Tchesov underlined the importance of ensuring the continuity of chronic disease treatment for the Ukrainian refugees, primarily for patients with cancer. “The Ministry of Health, together with the development partners, launched a hybrid strategy for providing medical assistance for oncological patients, which envisions broad cooperation with many international organizations. The cooperation means provision of medical assistance or creation of conditions for continuing medical assistance and also exercises to assess the oncological system in the Republic of Moldova,” said the functionary.
The donation was implemented as part of the project “Humanitarian Assistance for Ukraine and Neighboring Countries”. According to the last UN report, Moldova tops the list of countries that welcomed Ukrainian refugees, with almost 1,400 refugees per 10,000 people.
