Academicians Gheorghe Ghidirim and Ion Ababii will be conferred the title of citizen of honor of Chisinau. The Chisinau Municipal Council took such a decision on January 30, at the suggestion of Lib-Dem Sandu Grecu, IPN reports.

Gheorghe Ghidirim is a surgeon and university lecturer. A titular member of the Academy of Sciences, he was minister of health in 1990-1994. The academician initiated and promoted a number of reforms that contributed to the revitalization of the health protection system. He was also a member of the last parliament of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic. He took part in the formulation of the Declaration of Independence of Moldova and the adoption of the national anthem, coat of arms and flag.

Ion Ababii is a specialist in otorhinolaryngology and a titular member of the Academy of Sciences. He was minister of health in 2005-2008 and is the author of 367 scientific works that were published. He has 17 invention patents. He trained eight doctors and one doctor habilitate in medical sciences.