The social inclusion of persons with mental disabilities and the creation of integrated community services are Moldova’s strategic objectives for the next three years. In a roundtable meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Mihai Ciocanu said the number of beds in psychiatric hospitals will be substantially reduced, while beds for acute cases will be available in the local hospitals.

“We aim to integrate the mental health services into the local assistance system so as to make sure that the community service ensures the largest part of the services that are needed by persons with mental disabilities,” said the official, quoted by IPN.

Attending the event, Deputy Minister of Justice Nicolae Esanu said the state will borrow the EU policies on the social integration of persons with disabilities.

Human Rights Adviser at the United Nations Office in Moldova Claude Cahn said that all the people are equal before the law. In practice, it is not always so. Moldova must create a legal and political basis to ensure the equal participation of all the categories of people in the social life, regardless of the deficiencies they may experience. “We must find a policy that would satisfy everyone,” she stated.

Vadim Aftene, vice director of the Chisinau Clinical Psychiatric Hospital, pleaded for ensuring medical assistance in equal conditions for all the categories of patients, not only at national, but also local and districts levels.

There are three psychiatric hospitals in Moldova. The number of people suffering from mental disorders amounts to about 160,000.