Moldova has signed the European Union Joint Procurement Agreement that allows it to procure medicines together with EU countries. The signatory states have faster, fairer and often cheaper access to medicines and medical products. Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco said that this will allow us to have access to medicines that do not exist in the Republic of Moldova and to lower the procurement costs. “The joint procurement of medicines is a very important step that already demonstrates that we are a small part of the European Union, even before the signed accession document,” the minister told a press conference. The event took place after a meeting with European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, who is on a working visit to Moldova, IPN reports.

The Moldovan official noted that during the meeting, they discussed the developments in the health sector of the Republic of Moldova in the context of accession to the European Union, and the opportunities to advance the cooperation relations between the Republic of Moldova and the EU in order to strengthen the health system and align it with international and EU standards. “Today we signed this very important memorandum, which allows us to procure medicines together with countries of the European Union, which will enable us to have access to those medicines that are not found here, in the Republic of Moldova, and also to lower the procurement costs, because we are a small country and companies sometimes do not have interest in taking part in the procurement we announce,” said Ala Nemerenco.

European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides noted that the agreement is a very important tool in responding to serious cross-border threats to health. “As a signatory to this agreement, the Republic of Moldova, its health system and its citizens will become stronger and better prepared to respond to any kind of health-related crisis. By signing this agreement, Moldova will align itself with a mechanism that allows all participating states to have faster, fairer and often cheaper access to vital medicines and medical products,” said Stella Kyriakides, adding that the signing of the agreement marks another important step in the Republic of Moldova’s path towards European integration.