More than 1,300 refugees sought care and services in Moldovan hospitals, and 400 of them were hospitalized, including for cancer treatment and dialysis procedures, being provided with the necessary medicines.
This was stated by Health Minister Ala Nemerenco at a press conference with the regional director of the World Health Organization for Europe, Hans Kluge, who is visiting Chisinau. The minister spoke about the medical assistance provided to refugees, but also to the pressure on the health system in the Republic of Moldova.
“This humanitarian crisis is unprecedented. Our country has received and hosted the largest number of refugees per capita in the region. A large number of refugees, after a grueling journey, also needed medical assistance. Thus, the Ministry of Health has urgently created medical teams at each border checkpoint and in temporary placement centers. At the same time, the authorities ensure assistance to refugees in all medical emergencies and in cases of Covid”, said the minister.
Given Moldova’s limited resources, the authorities turned to external partners and international institutions for support. As a result, several EU countries expressed their willingness to take over some patients. “We have already made some transfers of patients, but many Ukrainian citizens want to stay in Moldova for treatment. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen the national capacities of the system in order to provide full-scale medical assistance, both to the refugees from Ukraine and to our citizens”, added Ala Nemerenco.
In the context of the refugee crisis, the WHO, with the support of the European Union, donated to Moldova a batch of one tonne of medicines and medical products and another batch of eight tonnes of medicines, consumables and medical kits, as well as rapid coronavirus tests.
