Relations between health departments of Chisinau and Tiraspol have future, deputy health minister

The relations between the health departments of Chisinau and Tiraspol have a future, regardless of the political situation, Deputy Minister of Health Gheorghe Turcanu, who heads the working group of Chisinau centering on the health sector, stated for Info-Prim Neo. ”The problems encountered in the health sector are solved through cooperation and communication. These relations will develop as only together can we offer the people the assistance they need,” he said. According to Gheorghe Turcanu, the Transnistrian region cannot yet provide adequate medical assistance to the population. The patients from the region come to receive treatment in Chisinau. Moldova’s health sector suffered many policy changes during the last few years. The institutional and organizational structure was modified in accordance with the international standards and the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The cooperation with the Transnistrian side in the healthcare system started several years ago with the launching of national programs to combat tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS. According to Gheorghe Turcanu, the relations between the health departments of Chisinau and Tiraspol had been frozen for a long period. There was no exchange of statistical data about infectious diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other ilnesses. “This problem has been solved this year, through the concerted effort of the working groups of Chisinau and Tiraspol that resumed work at the start of this year,” said Gheorghe Turcanu. He also said that the Transnistrian doctors send patients to Chisinau for heart operations. “They do not have such specialists and the necessary equipment,” he added. The deputy minister also referred to pressing problems, including the provision of the Transnistrians with obligatory health insurance policies, the adjustment of the diplomas issued to graduates of the Tiraspol Institute of Medicine to the program of the Ministry of Education of Moldova, and others. Gheorghe Turcanu said a number of problems have been solved after the working groups resumed work in February. The cooperation became more intense and productive. “This year, we will yet address a number of issues and try to identify solutions,” he said.