Mayor general of Chisinau municipality Ion Ceban said the decision to close the COVID Center at Moldexpo is a raider attack against the people’s health staged by the Ministry of Health and the Government, IPN reports.
In a news conference, the mayor expressed his dissatisfaction with the way in which Ala Nemerenco fulfills her duties. “She is the worst manager of the Ministry of Health so far,” he stated, calling on the MPs to put her concrete questions about the steps taken so far, besides the awkward statements she made over a number of subjects.
Ion Ceban criticized the Ministry for not coming up with a centralized solution for performing PCR tests at a lower price. He said the private laboratories continue to be protected. “The price of a PCR test remains about 800 lei. Where are the tests of 300 lei? The antigen tests in drugstores and at state institutions cost 200-300 lei and more. The Chisinau City Hall is the only institution that purchased these tests for 13 lei,” stated the mayor.
He believes that the closure of the COVID Center was planned because this is a municipal center and the Ministry of Health feels offended somehow. He presented letters from the Ministry of Economy, the Government and Moldexpo, saying these invoke financial losses totaling 3 million lei because exhibitions at Moldexpo cannot be staged. The cost of another pandemic year is yet ignored.
According to the mayor, the minister of health presented the information about the COVID Center in the most inappropriate way. She didn’t mention the efforts made to create this center that was extremely necessary in 2020. The COVID Center played a crucial role in optimizing the management of the large flow of patients and in reducing the pressure on hospitals. Over 40,000 persons suspected of having COVID-19 went through this center. Over 15,000 tested positive, while more than 4,000 received stationary treatment.
Speaking about the pandemic situation, the mayor said that a number of municipal hospitals will be gradually removed from the COVID circuit. The triage pavilion will remain operational at the COVID Center at Moldexpo.
In a press statement issued in reaction, the Ministry of Health said it will not comment on the mayor of Chisinau’s assertions referring to the subjects of the motion that was rejected by Parliament.
