There are 10,733 persons who benefit from free test strips for determination of glycaemia in the municipality of Chisinau and 3.7 million lei was allocated from the municipal budget for the purpose in 2018. The test strips are issued to adults two times a year, while to children quarterly. In a response to an injury made by IPN News Agency, the Chisinau General Division of Health and Social Assistance said the free test strips for determination of glycaemia includes 50 lancets with a device for adjusting the lancet and 50 glucose control test strips.

Among those who receive free test strips are children with diabetes, adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who are treated with human insulin and insulin analogs, adult patients with type 2 diabetes treated with peroral antidiabetic preparations from the category of socially deprived people (persons with disabilities, elderly people, participants in wars and armed conflicts, officially registered unemployed).

To benefit from free test strips for determination of glycaemia, the person should be included in the waiting list. The inclusion is made based on the presentation by the family doctor of information showing the person forms part of one of the eligible categories. The children are provided with free test strips for determination of glycaemia by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection. The test strips are distributed to beneficiaries based on the decision of the responsible commission of the Local Medical Associations, by superior medical assistants of family medicine divisions, based on recipes issued by the family doctor.

The Ministry earlier announced that insulin analogs will start to be administered to persons suffering from type 1 diabetes next January. The purchase of insulin in cartridges, instead of vials, will be allowed from the same month. All the diabetics will be provided with free tests for regularly determining the blood sugar level. Insulin analogs are modern and more efficient medications. The insulin in cartridges will be allowed because these ensure convenience and precision in administration.

The number of diabetics in Moldova has increased. Almost 105,000 new persons suffering from diabetes were registered in 2017, by almost 8,000 more than a year before. Over 400 of these were children. Some 80% of those persons suffered from type 1 diabetes, while the rest from type 2 diabetes.