The reform is set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Its goal is to consolidate and harmonize curricula with European standards and to improve the efficiency of resource use.
Currently, the Republic of Moldova’s network of secondary medical education—which includes the Raisa Pakalo Model Center for Medicine and Pharmacy and colleges in Bălți, Căgule, Ungheni, and Orhei, operates as separate legal entities. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the N. Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, assessed their capacity and identified a number of structural issues. These include fragmentation of the system, duplication of administrative functions, uneven utilization of facilities for practical training, and limited capacity to implement changes to curricula on an individual basis.
One of the most serious risks relates to human resources. Approximately 70% of the teaching staff in secondary medical education are over 50 years old. Over the past 10 years, not a single young specialist under the age of 30 has been hired.
How will the reorganization take place?
According to the Ministry of Health, educational activities in the current locations will continue, and college staff will be transferred to the university’s payroll. Any changes to the staffing structure will be carried out in accordance with labor laws and funded by the resources of the institutions undergoing reorganization.
The reorganization is planned in two phases: institutional integration and the harmonization of curricula, which will bring the educational programs into compliance with the requirements of European directives on the recognition of professional qualifications.
After combining the budgetary funds allocated for state-funded programs, as well as the institutions’ own revenues from tuition, housing, and rent, the consolidated budget of the N. Testemițanu State University of Maritime and Inland Navigation is estimated at approximately 1.084 billion lei.
According to the ministry’s estimates, in the medium term, the reorganization will reduce administrative expenses by approximately 10%. The resulting savings are planned to be directed toward the development of academic programs, support for the faculty, and the modernization of educational infrastructure and teaching equipment.
