News about Health care

Moldova ranks among the world’s leaders in terms of women’s political representation, placing 7th in the global gender equality ranking. This was reported by UN Women Moldova. The data was released to mark International Parliamentary Day.

Authorities are taking intensive measures to minimize the effects of the extreme heat wave that has swept across the Republic of Moldova. Between June 28 and 29, 2026, 3,567 people received assistance at emergency shelters set up by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (GIES). Rescue workers distributed more than 1,133 liters of drinking water to citizens.

The Belgian Agency for International Cooperation (ENABEL) will expand its activities in Moldova. The main focus will be on strengthening the resilience of the healthcare system and developing capacity to respond to public health emergencies. This topic was discussed during Health Minister Emil Ceban’s official visit to Brussels, which is taking place June 29–30.

Romanian labor inspectors will check whether employers are complying with protective measures on days with extreme temperatures, and if violations are found, they will impose the penalties provided for by law.

Ukraine’s first cat therapy center will soon open in the city of Irpin in the Kyiv region. The center will provide psychological support with the help of rescued cats, using feline therapy—a branch of animal-assisted therapy.

The Ministry of Education and Research is developing a Concept for the Development of a National Parent Education Ecosystem. This initiative essentially represents a reform in the area of family support. It involves a radical shift from fragmented and isolated programs to a unified, modern, and sustainable state system.

The extreme heat that swept across France this week led to approximately 1,000 excess deaths, according to the National Public Health Agency. The regions under a red alert were the hardest hit, and 85% of the deceased were over 65 years old.

The lack of coordination among government agencies leaves individuals with severe mental disorders and a propensity for violence unsupervised after discharge, creating a legal vacuum and posing a serious threat to public safety.

Salaries for social assistance workers in Moldova will be increased by an average of approximately 22%. The raise will apply to social workers, social service employees, child protection specialists, care assistants, managers of social institutions, and other professionals in the sector.

More than 174,000 people received compensation for medications and medical devices prescribed through the electronic prescription system last month. Of these, 126,000 were patients with cardiovascular diseases.

The rapid proliferation of AI-powered chatbots has drawn the attention not only of technology companies but also of mental health professionals. A new study published in the journal *Nature Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience* offers an explanation of how prolonged interaction with AI may contribute to the formation and reinforcement of delusional beliefs in some users.

The Ministry of Health has revised the regulations governing primary health care. The reform involves the administrative merger of several medical centers and a shift to regional management. The authorities assure the public that this measure will not result in the closure of rural clinics or staff reductions.

The Institute of Emergency Medicine (IMU) has modernized its operating room by purchasing a high-tech microscope for complex spinal surgeries. The project, costing 6.17 million lei, was funded by the National Health Insurance Company (CNAM) through the fund for the development and modernization of public healthcare providers.

The government appears to be ready to back down and abandon plans to impose a standard 20% VAT rate on medicines and medical supplies as part of the tax reform proposed for 2027. Finance Minister Andrian Gavrilita made these statements following a wave of criticism and a negative assessment from the Ministry of Health.

In the Republic of Moldova, more than 5,200 people (approximately 14% of all deaths) die each year as a result of smoking and exposure to toxic emissions from tobacco products and related items. These figures are included in the draft National Strategy on Drugs and Addictions for 2026–2032.

The Medicines and Medical Devices Agency has announced the launch of an internal reform following an assessment of its institutional processes. The reform is taking place against a backdrop of a significant backlog of dossiers under consideration, which has led to longer processing times due to an increase in the number of enquiries and the need to verify documentation.

The second heat wave of the month is sweeping across Europe, forcing authorities to close schools, reduce rail service, and implement emergency measures to protect the public. In the coming days, temperatures in several countries could reach 37–39°C, and in some parts of Spain, they could rise to 45°C.

The tax reform proposed for 2027, which calls for the introduction of a 20 percent VAT rate on medicines and medical supplies, risks destroying the healthcare system and triggering a chain reaction of price increases. Health Minister Emil Cheban made this statement, noting that his ministry had issued a negative opinion on the bill.

UPDATED. Moldova is integrating the European eCall system into its 112 emergency service, which will enable emergency calls from vehicles to be automatically transmitted in the event of traffic accidents.

Every year, between 1,250 and 1,500 open-heart surgeries are performed in Moldova, of which approximately 650–800 are performed at the T. Moshnyaga Republican Clinical Hospital. It is the only public institution in the country where pediatric cardiac surgery is performed.