The health system in the Republic of Moldova is confronted by a double challenge. On the one hand, the health facilities feel the lack of budget support. On the other hand, the medical policy instruments are not fully known and accepted by the population. The conclusions are contained in a sociological survey of the people’s perception of medical services, IPN reports.

According to the author of the study Ion Jigau, CBS-Axa director, a significant percentage of the population does not have health policy (31.8%), most of these being young people. “Only 36.6% of those surveyed consider the medical services are ‘satisfactory’ and only 26% consider these are cheap and accessible. 14% of the respondents said that when they need medical care, they do not go to health facilities, while 8% cure themselves.

Some 24% of those polled said that during the last 12 months they suffered diseases of the respiratory system, while 18% - diseases of the cardiovascular system. Only 11% know about the possibility of managing the medical data electronically, most of these being aged between 18 and 29, with higher education and from urban areas.

“The people do not have confidence in the way the money is managed in the public healthcare system. This refers both to medical services and to the pension fund. This perception makes the people avoid using these services by purchasing health policy,” said CBS-Axa expert Vasile Cantarji.

The survey of the perception of medical service was carried out between December 3 and 10 and covered a sample of 1,123 persons. The survey results were presented by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” and the Hanns Seidel Foudnation.