The children younger than 12 will be entitled to complete free dental care based on the mandatory health insurance. Also, breast prostheses will be offered free for breast reconstruction as a result of oncologic surgery. The Government approved relevant amendments to the Law on Health Protection, IPN reports.

Deputy Minister of Health Octavian Grama said dental diseases pose a threat to children’s health and the free dental care will diminish this threat As regards the covering of costs for breast reconstruction following oncologic surgeries, this is important from psychological viewpoint for women who had such operations. The women who underwent mastectomies will be able to reintegrate into society and to return to an active lifestyle.

The representative of the National Participation Council Antonita Fonari said that civil society supports this bill, but does not agree that the free assistance will be provided within the possibilities of the mandatory health insurance funds. “Exact calculations should be done to see how much money is needed as, under the current formula, a woman who was operated at yearend, for example, will not benefit from free assistance for breast reconstruction because there won’t be enough money at the end of the year,” she stated.

According to statistics, there are over 9,000 women in Moldova suffering from breast cancer. Neoplasm is annually detected in 900 women. About 600 of them undergo mastectomy.