The services provided by the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) and its subdivisions are significantly increasing in price. For some analyses, the tariff hikes are several times higher. The government has approved modifications to the List of Fees for Paid Services in the Public Health Sector offered to individuals and legal entities, IPN reports.

"The project aims to adjust current tariffs and introduce new fees necessary for the expansion and modernization of services provided by the National Agency for Public Health and its subdivisions. These services fall within the public health sector but are not medical services for patients," stated Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco.

According to her, the price adjustments apply to various types of analyses conducted by public health services, which have not been updated in over 10 years. This comes despite the fact that the cost of some consumables used in these investigations has increased by 1400%.

"For example, surface wash sample testing used to cost 12 lei. Practically, such a service no longer existed. Now, it will cost 78 lei. The collection of air samples for chemical parameters used to cost 14 lei, and now it will be 83 lei. This is not a very high price. Determining metals and chemical indicators in soil using photocolorimetric and spectrophotometric methods involves multiple analyses. It used to cost only 60 lei, but now it will exceed 200 lei," the minister explained.

Ala Nemerenco emphasized that, although the price increases are considerable, they will not impact the general population. "They detect salmonella, staphylococcus, etc. They conduct air and water analyses to check for heavy metals, among other things. These measures are solely to protect public health," the health minister added.