Some of the social achievements of 2016 represent the result of work done during over 10 years, said the invitees to a public debate at IPN, deputy minister of health Oleg Creciun and head of the National NGO Council Antonita Fonari.
Antonita Fonari, who is also the manager of the Platform for Active Citizenship and Partnership for Human Rights, said the most important provisions of the Law on Tobacco Control have taken effect this year. One of these bans smoking in public places. Even if changes started to be felt, the implementation of all the provisions should be monitored and controlled.
The adoption of the law that institutes a minimum 40% gender quota for party lists of candidates is another accomplishment. Though the men dominate politics, changes started to appear. The law also institutes paternity leave and this is another important aspect. The activist considers this provision will contribute to a greater involvement of fathers in the raising and education of children and this is a step forward.
Another accomplishment at social level, according to Antonita Fonari, is the enactment of the law that protects the victims of violence. The law provides for the creation of very goods services. Though these are mainly created by NGOs, the state bodies also became involved. The activist noted that a lot of things are yet to be done. Next year, together with her colleagues from the NGO sector, she aims to lay emphasis on activities aimed at controlling alcohol and on volunteering promotion.
For his part, Oleg Creciun said 2016 in healthcare was marked by the rise in salaries and the implementation of the new regulations on remuneration of doctors, with focus on performance. As of July, all the employees of public health facilities that form part of the mandatory health insurance system receive salaries by 20% higher. The doubling of the number of compensated drugs and the extension of the categories of beneficiaries are also among the accomplishments. The age of beneficiary children was raised from five to 18. As of October, 160 commercial names of drugs were cheapened by 40%.
Among other accomplishments, Oleg Creciun mentioned the Ministry of Health’s commitment to reform the emergency medical assistance service. The single emergency phone number 112 will continue to be developed and implemented. The Mobile Emergency, Reanimation and Extrication Service will also be developed, while the ambulances will be renewed.
The public debate “Social aspects of the year 2016 in the view of authorities and experts” is the 69th debate of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are staged with the assistance of the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.