Only from the provision of medical services to foreign patients the income in 2024 amounted to $64 million, and in 2025 is expected to exceed $75 million. Moldova’s potential to serve the regional market is estimated at $1.3-$1.5 billion per year – primarily by utilizing existing infrastructure and human capital.
Medical tourism is seen as a high value-added sector with export potential. Since 2010, the volume of receipts from foreign patients has increased 6-fold, and Moldova already has significant competitive advantages: trained medical staff, modern infrastructure and affordable services.
The government considers the inclusion of medical tourism in national strategies as an economic priority that can increase the sustainability of the economy, attract investment and create new jobs.
Thus, on September 25-28, Moldova is hosting for the first time the Global Forum on Medical Tourism, which will gather more than 100 delegates from 50 countries, including representatives from Bahrain, Tanzania and Mauritania. This event takes place within the framework of Moldova’s chairmanship of the Global Health Tourism Council (GHTC), where the country leads an international platform of 56 countries.
According to the organizers, the forum in Chisinau focuses on three strategic directions: Medical Innovation and Digitalization of Healthcare, Infrastructure Investments and Export of Medical Services,
At the same time, there will be an international online conference for the academic community – “Medical Tourism and Global Climate and Economic Shifts”.
According to Natalia Ciobanu, President of the Medical Tourism Association, the forum is dedicated not only to medical tourism as such, but also to the creation of a regional hub for medical tourism in Moldova.
