The School of Public Health Management was founded in 2005 by order of the Ministry of Health and has been continuously functioning at the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemitanu” for 20 years. During this time, more than 500 managers for the health care system of the Republic of Moldova were graduated.
The conflict arose after the Order of the Ministry of Health was issued on October 6, 2025. Members of the School accuse the management of pressure and intimidation, including exclusion of the institution from official documents, infringement of vacation rights and salaries, as well as pressure on employees to sign acts leading to the liquidation of the institution. All members of the School’s permanent staff have refused to sign such documents.
“This is not a dispute over ambition or a simple renaming. This is an illegal liquidation of a strategically important institution for the public health system,” said Mikhail Pysla, MD, associate professor at the School of Public Health Management.
There is also dissatisfaction with the enrollment in the master’s program: this year only 10 places were offered, exclusively on a fee basis, although the capacity and needs of the health system would have allowed for much more. Faculty feel that limiting enrollment infringes on the legal right to study in a key area.
The School recently held an open session for the defense of master’s theses, at which 26 new graduates presented papers, each focusing on current issues in public health and health system functioning.
School officials say they remain open to dialog, but warn that they will not accept “administrative pressures, falsifications and legal distortions.” For the time being, the University named after N. Testemitanu. N. Testemitanu University, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Research have not given an official public response.
The “Japanese strike” involves the continuation of academic activities.
