Moldova launches national digital health program to close EU gap
A new national health program aims to provide Moldovan citizens with faster access to medical records, remote consultations, and less bureaucracy for healthcare staff.
The 'National Program for Digitalization and Innovation in Health 2025–2030' was approved by the government on Wednesday, 3 September.
The program promises several key changes for patients, including the introduction of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). This new system is expected to be accessible to 90% of citizens by 2030, enabling online access to medical history, electronic appointments, and digital prescriptions. It will also provide access to telemedicine, which is especially important for those in rural areas where healthcare services are often limited.
Healthcare staff can also expect to see less bureaucracy and have more time to spend with patients. Doctors and nurses will use intuitive digital applications for telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and the rapid exchange of clinical data. In addition, AI-powered analysis tools will assist with planning and decision-making, relieving pressure on medical professionals.
"The goal of this program is to create a secure, interoperable, and citizen-centric digital ecosystem," stated Health Minister Ala Nemerenco. "This is a reform designed to improve the access, quality, and continuity of medical care. The program will support healthcare staff with modern digital tools that will streamline workflows, reduce bureaucracy, and eliminate unnecessary paperwork, replacing existing fragmented, slow, dysfunctional, and outdated systems."
The program includes five major objectives:
- Modernising digital infrastructure and medical networks.
- Ensuring the interoperability of registries and information systems.
- Protecting and securing medical data.
- Developing digital services for patients.
- Increasing the digital skills of medical staff and the digital literacy of the population.
Minister Ala Nemerenco highlighted that currently only 25% of medical documentation is digitised and less than 10% of citizens have online access to their medical data. This is significantly below the EU average, and authorities hope the new program will help close the gap and bring Moldova closer to European digital health standards.
The government also hopes to boost public trust in the healthcare system by guaranteeing data protection and enhancing cybersecurity. Information campaigns and training programmes for medical staff are also planned to ensure the new digital solutions are used effectively. Through this initiative, authorities aim to transform the healthcare system into a modern, safe, and equitable one, ensuring every citizen has access to quality medical services, regardless of where they live.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
