Financial Scarcity in Chisinau Healthcare Delays Technology Upgrade

The scarce budgets of the medical establishments in Chisinau can hardly cover current expenses and are insufficient for implementing new technologies and upgrading conditions to meet European standards, says Luminita Suveica, the head of the municipal Health Department, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. “Capital and current repairs as well equipment upgrades are pressing needs which deserve more attention from the local authorities”, Luminita Suveica said. In 2009 the only allocation made from the municipal budget for these purposes was a 241,700 lei sum for dialysis equipment at the Holy Trinity Hospital's nephrology section. Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said more funds have been already earmarked for medical equipment purchases in 2010, and the allocations will rise each year. The mayor also urged 'maximum unity' among doctors to promote reform. “Even though we don't have state-of-the-art medical technologies, doctors in Moldova have a great professional potential”, said Dorin Chirtoaca. The National Health Insurance Corporation funded purchases of medical equipment in the amount of over 7.2 mln lei for the Children's Hospital V. Ignatenco and the district medical associations in Centru and Ciocana. Other medical establishments made insignificant purchases from their own budgets. Health Minister Vladimir Hotineanu remarked that Moldovan health care system hasn't improve its technology pool at all in the last 10 years. “We are in a continuous stagnation and we can't say when the first step toward new technology will be taken”, stated the minister.