Representatives of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” (PPPDA) from a number of Moldova’s districts said a circular signed by the Ministry of Health calls on the directors of public health facilities managed by the local public authorities to take part in the Advisory Board that is subordinate to the head of the State Chancellery’s local office, IPN reports.

In a news conference, PPPDA secretary general Liviu Vovc said that such a move is aimed at centralizing the power and this is against the law. “We call on the representatives of the government to give up such intentions” he stated.

“These actions are a consequence of the lack of transparency. This letter hadn’t been discussed and the District Council didn’t know about it. We support the administrative reform, but we must do an authentic reform,” said the deputy head of Ialoveni district Victoria Marian-Bogos.

Contacted by IPN for a comment, the head of the Ministry of Health’s press service Elena Mudryi confirmed the existence of such a circular. She said the letter was sent on the instruction of the State Chancellery with the aim of ensuring proper cooperation with the local offices of the State Chancellery. “The Ministry of Health, and probably all the Ministries, received a letter from the State Chancellery and, based on it, the Ministry of Health issued a circular that was transmitted to the managers of public sector institutions managed by the Ministry,” she stated.

The Advisory Board for each territorial-administrative unit of the second level is a consultative body of the head of the local office of the State Chancellery (the Government’s local representative) that helps fulfill the duties related to general coordination of the activity of the de-concentrated administrative services of ministries and other central administrative authorities.