"Medical institutions are obligated to be a model of integrity and transparency. Unfortunately, World Health Organization data show that about 70% of health payments in the Republic of Moldova are "out of pocket" expenses, paid by citizens, both officially and unofficially, although they have insurance policies." The statement was made by the Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection (MSMPS), Ala Nemerenco, during a meeting with the CNA director, Ruslan Flocea, IPN reports.
According to a Ministry’s press release, Ala Nemerenco says that informing and training doctors on the anti-corruption and integrity segment would be welcomed. However, it is necessary to inform the population segment, who must be aware that the practice of unofficial medical payments is an illegal one, and by virtue of the existing system of compulsory health insurance, citizens benefit from free medical services.
In this context, CNA director Ruslan Flocea said uprooting the practice of collecting direct payments from citizens' pocket represented one of the main objectives undertaken by CNA together with the MSMPS, given that the population was increasingly expressing their discontent regarding this illegal phenomenon.