Although the authorities have been promising the implementation of electronic medical cards for years, patients do not yet have access to such cards in which all the results of examinations and doctors’ recommendations are centralized. Approached at an event to mark two decades of implementation of mandatory health insurance in the Republic of Moldova, Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco told IPN’s reporter that there has been an information system used by family doctors for a long time, but it is far from being perfect and needs to be modernized. The Ministry of Health aspires to implement a unified information system, which would integrate all the health institutions, including hospitals, primary medicine, prophylactic services, the private healthcare sector. However, the lack of financial resources remains a major obstacle.
“Now we are finalizing the strategy of the medical information system that we will submit to the Cabinet for approval. This will open the doors to appropriate financing because such systems cost a lot of money and we could really have a modern information system. The ones we have now are old and we should give them up, but for the purpose we need very large resources,” stated the minister.
National Health Insurance Company (CNAM) director general Ion Dodon said that from his point of view, the authorities to focus on strengthening the strategic procurement of medical services, on covering the entire population of the Republic of Moldova with mandatory health insurance. It is necessary to increase the degree of equity in terms of the collection of compulsory health insurance premiums. A representative of the legal profession must pay more than a social worker or a teacher, who has lower incomes.
The implementation of the health technology assessment mechanism, introduction of the European Health Insurance Card, ensuring of financial coverage of cross-border healthcare, digitization and cross-border transmission of data are among other priorities highlighted by the CNAM director.
“As the entire society contributes to the budget managed by the CNAM, we must ensure that the needs of each group in society are taken into account. All those who contribute must be sure that they receive back exactly what they have contributed and need,” said President Maia Sandu, who attended the event.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said that since the introduction of the compulsory health insurance system in Moldova, the proportion of households facing catastrophic health expenses has been considerably reduced. The number of people paying directly out of pocket for healthcare has fallen by 40%.
Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova Guido Beltrani noted that in the past two decades, the implementation of mandatory health insurance has been a pillar in the development of the health system in the Republic of Moldova. It has contributed significantly to the country’s overall wellbeing and prosperity, providing access to essential health services for millions of citizens.
At the beginning, in 2004, 65% of the population was attracted to the compulsory health insurance system, but today the figure rose to over 82%, the authorities specify.
