The European Union during the last ten years supported financially, with about €60 million, different programs and projects implemented in the health sector of Moldova. Some €43 million of this assistance was provided as budget support, IPN reports.

In a meeting centering on healthcare on January 20, the head of the Political and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Moldova Wicher Slagter said the European Union assists Moldova in achieving the objective to ensure the people’s access to medical services of a high quality. The EU supports the reform in the health sector by different methods – by providing medical equipment, by implementing projects that ensure exchange of experience between specialists from Moldova and those from EU states. The EU also assists Moldova to adjust the national legislation to the Community acquis.

Wicher Slagter noted that Moldova faces particular constraints as regards the provision of cost-efficient medical services. These constraints are related to the fact that the resources allocated to the medical system per capita in Moldova are much lower than in other European states.

The demographic factor is also a constraint because many persons able to work go abroad, while the number of elderly people is on the rise. Thus, the population is aging. Also, the health of the population in Moldova is worse than in the EU states. Studies show that the incidence of cardiovascular and hepatic diseases in Moldova is much higher than the average in other European states.