The Nicolae Testemițanu University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Neurology Society of Moldova have launched a pilot project aiming to assist patients that have suffered cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) by using telemedicine, IPN reports.
Academician Stanislav Groppa, the president of the Neurology Society and prorector of the Nicolae Testemițanu University, said that one Moldovan suffers a stroke every hour, and every hour and a half a Moldovan dies from a stroke. “This unfortunate disease brings death, disability and affects the quality of life”, stated Dr. Groppa at the launch event.
“Thanks to advanced technologies, today we have the possibility to initiate a remodeling of the health system through strategies of regionalization, hierarchy, creation of centers of high competence. And, of course, today the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, which is the host of this event, is ready to provide all the logistical, scientific and methodological support in the continuous training of the staff to fulfill this mission,” added the academician.
Attending the event, Dr. Ala Nemerenco, Minister of Health, stated that the authorities aim to remove the barriers that reduce the chance of survival of patients with CVA, and one of the priorities is to provide diagnostic capabilities at national level. Another objective is the regionalization of accurate and timely diagnostic services.
Iurie Țurcanu, Deputy Prime Minister for Digitization, noted that, when time is limited, modern technologies are instrumental in bringing information to doctors for an adequate response in complicated situations. One of the components of digitization is the implementation of the patient’s electronic medical record. The project launched today will contribute to the remote collection of information about patients admitted to regional hospitals. Other telemedicine platforms will be used for online consultations. Drug prescriptions will be filled in online by doctors and will be accessible in pharmacies when needed.
Dr. Emil Ceban, rector of the Nicolae Testemițanu University, noted that information technologies and telemedicine are “the medicine of the future”, being an easy way to access safe and high quality medical services. “This is especially true of CVA, which is considered to be the leading cause of brain damage, long-term disability and death. Making a diagnosis as soon as possible and a timely administration of a treatment are crucial in preventing brain injury and in aiding patient recovery”, said Emil Ceban.
One goal of the project is to regionalize and create a ranking system in the health care system, as well as to create a specialized high-level emergency care center for CVA patients. It is proposed to set up nine primary CVA centers: in the nort - Edinet, Soroca and Balti; in central Moldova - Orhei, Ungheni, Chisinau, Hancesti, and Causeni; and in the south - Comrat and Cahul. There will be two primary CVA centers in Chisinau: at the Institute of Emergency Medicine and the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery. It is also proposed to create a national register of stroke patients, whose number at present stands at about 80,000.
