A working group constituted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection within a month is to provide an updated list of rare diseases and to assess the costs associated with their treatment and diagnosis, IPN reports.

“The patients with rare diseases should not suffer because the health system cannot meet their needs,” said Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbrăveanu, noting Moldova does not have now a National Rare Disease Control Program and an action plan concerning the prevention of rare diseases and the screening for them.

In a meeting centering on the issue, Viorica Dumbrăveanu said the major objective for the immediate period is to work out a National Rare Disease Control Program, as it is stipulated in the Government’s Action Plan.

The Ministry will ask for support from the World Health Organization in implementing policies based on international experience and evidence regarding the control of rare diseases.