The presidents of Cahul, Soroca and Ialoveni districts accuse the National Healthcare Insurances Corporation (CNAM) of refusing to sign contracts for 2009 with the district hospitals, because of political reasons. The CNAM's management rejects the accusations, Info-Prim Neo reports. The presidents of those three districts, members of Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN), told a news conference Monday in Chisinau that the CNAM's refusal is based on the fact that the local officials did not confirm the managers of hospitals as recommended by the Health Ministry. According to the law, the Ministry holds national contests for the positions of hospital managers. The local councils, as founders of the hospitals, are to confirm the appointees. All the three district presidents sued the results of the contests. “The contest regulation has been modified by the Government several times in order to set convenient people in those posts. The Government violates the law and fulfills its political interests,” said the Ialoveni president, Mihai Silistraru. The presidents say, starting from January 1, the patients of hospitals may not receive medical services, despite having compulsory medical policies. “The doctors cautioned us: if the contract is not signed till January 1 , they will not go to work on January 2,” said Mircea Martanciuc, the president of Soroca district. “If the contracts are not signed we'll sue the CNAM and we're sure we'll win the case,” said the president of Cahul, Gheorghe Vasilachi. The presidents say several other district hospitals are in a similar situation, as the districts are not managed by Communist presidents. When asked by Info-Prim Neo, the CNAM's general manager, Gheorghe Russu, has said the CNAM signed the contract with the district hospital of Cahul long ago. The hospitals from Ialoveni and Soroca were also invited to negotiate the contracts. According to Gheorghe Russu, the heads of the two hospitals do not have full powers to sign the contracts. The newly elected have not been confirmed by the district councils, the former one were supported only by the councils, not passing through contests. Russu considers that the local public administration shall make a final decision – either confirms the new doctors, or sues the results. Meanwhile, the CNAM manager believes, they could appoint interims to sign the contracts. Gheorghe Russu assures that the population will not have to suffer, and the contracts will be signed before January 1. “We are ready to sign the contract albeit tomorrow, provided the conditions are legal,” Russu said.