North Carolina has been supporting the medical system of Moldova over the last 20 years. During this period, various cooperation and distance learning projects have been implemented, Ion Ababii, rector of the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (USMF), told a press conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Bilateral Partnership between Moldova and North Carolina.

According to Ion Ababii, since 2006, USMF has been maintaining collaboration relations with medical, research and healthcare institutions in North Carolina. In 2006 alone, university clinics and national medical institutions in Chisinau benefited from about $500,000 worth of  equipment and consumables. Also in 2006, the cooperation project between the USMF Medical Scientific Library and 12 North Carolina Medical Libraries began. Within this partnership, the US donated more than 100,000 copies of medical publications and provided free access to the most valuable databases and resources on evidence-based medicine.

The partnership between the North Carolina Dental Society and the USMF Faculty of Dentistry is also a good example of cooperation. US dental practitioners, along with their colleagues from Moldova, have provided dental services for over 5,000 children in Moldovan residential homes over the years. In 2008 a distance learning course was launched for Moldovan dentists. In 2018, with the support of American partners, a university education program was initiated for nurses.

“On behalf of the USMF Senate, we express our deep gratitude to all our partners who have become our good friends,” said Ion Ababii. The professor noted that the USMF is ready to develop and expand cooperation programs with North Carolina partners, in particular in the area of student and research mobility.

Attending the event, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall noted that the desire to develop the health care system in Moldova will leave a good legacy to the future generations, as the humanitarian impact of exchanges of students and teachers will be extraordinary.

The Partnership between the Republic of Moldova and North Carolina was launched in April 1999, aiming to develop economic, cultural, scientific, academic, defense, and civil protection relations.