Moldova emerging as medical tourism hub for dental care and plastic surgery
More than 100 delegates from 50 countries, including specialists in medicine, tourism, and innovation, will participate in the seventh edition of the Global Healthcare Travel Forum. This event is scheduled to take place from September 25 to 28 in Chisinau as part of the "Moldova Tourism Forum" platform. Natalia Ciobanu, the President of the Moldovan Medical Tourism Association (ATMM), informed Radio Moldova that the forum is organised in the context of Moldova holding the presidency of the Global Healthcare Travel Council (GHTC).
The forum will focus on three main pillars: investments, innovations, and development, said Natalia Ciobanu, president of the Medical Tourism Association, on the national radio station's "Zi de Zi" show. The event will also host the General Assembly to elect the new leadership of the Global Healthcare Travel Council: "At the moment, we have two candidate countries - Poland and Saudi Arabia".
According to Natalia Ciobanu, medical tourism in the Republic of Moldova has experienced significant growth in recent years, thanks to the combination of affordable prices and high-quality services offered.
"Medical tourism has gained positive momentum and excellent development, because we, as a country, offer quality services at affordable prices in areas that are not included in the mandatory medical insurance policies in developed countries, and this is a very big advantage. Plus, we are practically in the heart of Western Europe and, respectively, the possibility of entering the country or even for those who need visas is a good e-Visa system, which helps foreign patients", explained the president of the Medical Tourism Association.
According to her, e-Visa can be accessed based on medical certificates and invitations from clinics.
*"Countries that do not require a visa have much easier access. So, there are practically all the connections to Istanbul, and from there - an hour and 10 minutes to have access to quality health services at affordable prices, in the Republic of Moldova," said Ciobanu.
The Republic of Moldova has become an important regional center for certain types of treatments, attracting patients from several regions of the world. "The Republic of Moldova has become a hub for the field of dental treatments or dentistry, the field of plastic surgery, which encompasses several directions, the field of cosmetology and beauty, in vitro fertilization and minimally invasive surgery or one-day surgery", informed the cited source, noting that most patients come from European Union countries, Israel, Arab countries or CIS states.
We would like to remind you that medical tourism in the Republic of Moldova has the potential to become a strategic sector with significant economic potential, experiencing substantial growth in recent years. If, in 2010, the revenues generated by medical services offered to foreigners were $ 10.5 million, by 2024 they had exceeded $ 64 million, and for 2025, a record of over $ 75 million is estimated, according to an analysis conducted by economic expert Veaceslav Ioniță.
The analyst claims that currently only 5% of the potential of medical tourism is being exploited, and we could transform the advantages: low costs, quality services and well-trained specialists — into a solid national brand. With investments in infrastructure, staff training, and diversification of offerings, the sector could generate up to $ 1.5 billion annually.
