The bill providing for this was passed today by Parliament on its first reading.
The bill was drafted by the Ministry of Health in the context of the commitments undertaken by the Republic of Moldova under the Association Agreement with the European Union, which provide for the gradual alignment of national legislation with the acquis communautaire, including in the areas of professional regulation and labor mobility.
This will establish a clear and transparent legal framework for the recognition of professional qualifications obtained in the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the Swiss Confederation. The draft provides for both an automatic recognition procedure for harmonized professions (physician, dentist, pharmacist, physician assistant, and midwife) and the application of a general recognition regime, which includes compensatory measures such as a qualification test.
The bill also provides for the introduction of a national professional card—a document confirming the holder’s right to practice their profession and replacing existing permits. The card will be valid for five years and will be registered in the Registry of Certified Healthcare Professionals. At the same time, a European professional card will be introduced to facilitate the cross-border mobility of professionals within the European Union.
The National Council for Evaluation and Accreditation in Healthcare (CNEAS) will be the competent authority responsible for the process of recognizing qualifications.
The bill will be considered by Parliament in its second reading. Once adopted, the new provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027, with the exception of certain provisions that will become applicable upon the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union.
