Several days after the intention to transfer the district hospitals under the management of the Ministry of Health was made public, the MPs of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) gave a first reading to a bill to this effect. The MPs of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists criticized the initiative, noting that the government deceives when it says that it wants to depoliticize the health system as the goal is actually to bring these institutions under control, IPN reports.

A group of PAS MPs, who are the sponsors of the bill to transfer the district hospitals from the management of district councils under the Ministry of Health, said the measure will lead to an improvement in the quality of services for patients by increasing investments, ensuring systemic planning of services and optimizing hospital management.

According to the authors, the founders of the district hospitals – the district councils – do not make investments and do not ensure high-quality management, while the people suffer because of the lack of medicines, poor organization, old equipment and unsatisfactory conditions.

The opposition MPs criticized the initiative. Socialist MP Vladimir Odnostalco said he does not believe in the declared reform of the system as this is only banal subjugating of the hospitals to the Ministry. The government can actually support any medical institution in the country through special programs and does not face any impediment in this regard.

BCS MP Irina Lozovan said this is a new attempt by the current government to politicize and subjugate the hospitals. First of all, the employees of these institutions should have been asked what they believe about the government’s intention. During many years, the district councils have directed money to the hospitals and taken crucial and immediate decisions when it was necessary. There is no certainty that the quality of medical services will improve following the so-called “reform” and the district hospitals could disappear.

PAS MP Ana Oglinda said the national health system needs not only rehabilitation, but also reanimation, including the renovation of district hospitals. The proposed amendments are designed to strengthen and optimize the management of medical institutions and to ensure the population’s access to high-quality services.

The bill is to be given a final reading.