Moldovan surgeons demand risk-based salary increases
Moldovan surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensive care specialists are demanding a significant overhaul of the national healthcare salary structure. In an online petition led by Dr. Andrei Olaru, an orthopedic oncologist, over 130 high-level specialists are calling for "differentiated coefficients" to reflect the extreme risks and responsibilities of their roles.
The protest highlights a legislative gap created last year, which left highly skilled surgeons earning less than family doctors or psychiatric staff. Currently, senior surgical specialists in regional and municipal hospitals earn an average of €918 (approx. 18,000 MDL), a figure practitioners claim does not reflect the complexity of their work.
Systemic pay disparities
Valeriu Petrovici, a surgeon with three decades of experience, emphasized that life-saving decisions require more than just standard compensation. This sentiment is echoed by Veaceslav Neamțu, an anesthesiologist who noted that "round-the-clock bedside care" remains undervalued compared to other medical branches.
The "Sănătatea" Trade Union Federation has stepped in, labeling current wages insufficient by European standards. Federation Vice-President Natalia Chihai reported that while the average physician salary reached €1,173 (approx. 23,000 MDL) in 2025, it remains inadequate for high-intensity specialties. The union is demanding a minimum 10% gradual increase.
Ministry promises structural changes
Health Minister Emil Ceban expressed support for the specialists, acknowledging that those performing "high-stakes procedures" deserve better compensation. While hospital directors can currently offer small bonuses based on merit, the government plans to amend the law to link salaries directly to the complexity of each department.
Despite a general 15% salary increase for healthcare workers implemented on January 1, 2025, the core issue of hierarchical pay remains. The Ministry of Health maintains that legislative adjustments are necessary to ensure that specialized surgeons are remunerated fairly according to their medical impact.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
