The National Health Insurance Company (CNAM) on Friday signed an amendment to the Partnership Agreement with the International Organization for Migration’s Mission to Moldova. The amendment aims to cover the costs of medical services provided to Ukrainian refugees in the first two months of 2023, before Moldova introduced the temporary protection mechanism for displaced persons from Ukraine.

The covered services include dialysis offered in outpatient and inpatient settings, pre-hospital emergency medical services and hospital emergency medical services for women over 55 years of age and men, and primary and hospital medical assistance services.

During the document signing event, CNAM director Ion Dodon thanked the IOM Mission for the openness shown in responding promptly to the need of covering medical assistance costs for refugees.

“This amendment is designed to remedy the situation regarding the financing of the respective services in the first two months of this year, the period before the refugees obtained temporary protection status in our country. It is an important form of aid, which contributes to reducing the financial pressure on the state budget”, said Ion Dodon.

For his part, IOM Moldova Chief of Mission Lars Johan Lönnback emphasized that the financial support offered to Moldova represents a gesture of solidarity with refugees in difficulty. “This is how we join forces to bring hope, healing and relief at crucial times”, the official was quoted as saying in a press release.

The funding by IOM Mission to Moldova of these costs through the National Health Insurance Company takes place as part of four projects intended to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees.

The total budget estimated by CNAM and IOM for providing medical services to refugees from Ukraine during this year is $730,000.