--- title: "Medical tourism slows due to limited capacity at Chișinău Airport" url: https://moldova1.md/p/86648/medical-tourism-slows-due-to-limited-capacity-at-chisinau-airport published: 2026-10-01T16:35:38Z language: en author: "Liubomir Guțu" section: "Economic" source: moldova1.md --- # Medical tourism slows due to limited capacity at Chișinău Airport > The Republic of Moldova's immense potential for exporting medical services is hampered by transport infrastructure. Industry experts highlight that medical tourism has tripled; however, the limited capacity of Chișinău Airport poses a major challenge, serving as the first obstacle for international patients choosing to undergo treatment in the country. ![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/981e5187-2ebc-459b-82a2-fa9b9caa60f8.jpg) The Republic of Moldova's immense potential for exporting medical services is hampered by transport infrastructure. Industry experts highlight that medical tourism has tripled; however, the limited capacity of Chișinău Airport poses a major challenge, serving as the first obstacle for international patients choosing to undergo treatment in the country. Medical tourism depends primarily on logistics, not just on the quality of medical care, says Corrado Palmas, a dentist and director of a clinic in Chișinău. *"We need simple procedures to attract foreign patients. When people think of medical tourism, they tend to believe it’s all about the clinics. For me, the first critical point is the airport. We aren't engaged in a traditional export of services, nor do we deliver services online; we provide in-person services. Without air accessibility, we cannot export anything. Ultimately, the entire chain rests on four pillars: clinics, hotels, transport, and doctors,"* the doctor stated at the *Moldova Health Economy Forum 2026*, held in Chișinău on October 1st. Corrado Palmas also highlighted that the battle for patients takes place on the international market, where flight prices play a decisive role. *"Our competitors are not within the Republic of Moldova, but outside it. Albania, for instance—a country with a population similar to ours—has an airport that handles twice as many passengers as the one in Chișinău. This means we need more airlines. When there is an extensive flight network and multiple operators on each route, competition increases, and travel costs for patients drop significantly,"* Corrado Palmas noted. ![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/0f779ad9-0d79-4b5a-b1e1-7b7a36cdc28c.jpg) Medical tourism and educational programs for international students have generated nearly 200 million euros for the Republic of Moldova—almost three times the figure recorded in 2019. This growth has been driven by four key areas, according to Evelina Găscăliu, Head of the Post-Investment Support Unit at the Investment Agency. She noted that revenue from medical services has tripled, with exports in this field exceeding 75 million euros in 2025. "Patients from Romania, Italy, Germany, and Canada are already choosing Moldovan doctors," Evelina Găscăliu emphasized. Secondly, medical education has become a rapidly expanding industry. Exports in this sector exceed 120 million euros, thanks to the more than 1,700 international students studying at the "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy. "Every international graduate becomes an ambassador for Moldovan medicine," the Investment Agency representative noted. Another key pillar supporting the development of medical tourism is the network of related services. "When a patient arrives for treatment, the hospitality, transport, restaurant, and rehabilitation sectors all benefit. Investments in healthcare have a ripple effect, generating positive outcomes across the entire economy," the specialist explained. The final element involves creating a unique ecosystem where medical services, specialized education, and pharmaceutical production are integrated into a single, competitive sector that is open to investment. Authorities acknowledge that health and the economy can no longer be viewed in isolation. *"The Moldova Health Economy Forum is an event that seeks to bring together two fields we can no longer view separately: the economy and healthcare. This sector drives research and highly skilled jobs, stimulates innovation, and attracts investment and opportunities. The Republic of Moldova has highly trained doctors, digital expertise, and a very dynamic private sector,"* stated Elena Bivol, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, at the *Moldova Health Economy Forum*. Developing this sector requires pursuing three strategic directions: the first focuses on service quality, ensuring patients have full confidence in their doctors. The second direction is digitalization, as technology must streamline administrative processes to allow medical staff to dedicate more time to patients. The third direction concerns partnerships. *"Authorities, healthcare institutions, academia, and partners cannot operate in parallel environments. We must share a unified health ecosystem where everyone contributes—through investment and innovation—in areas where they possess expertise,"* the State Secretary concluded. *** ***Key hubs of global medical tourism—most are concentrated in Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and Central America:*** ![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/69d01c38-e288-43e2-9897-e43d0514a47c.jpg) Natalia Ciobanu, President of the Medical Tourism Association of the Republic of Moldova, states that this forum—bringing together pharmaceutical companies, clinics, medical professionals, and national and international experts—should result in a strategic plan for cross-industry cooperation, ensuring that medical tourism drives not only economic growth but also sustainable development. *"As you have heard, the Prime Minister himself has declared medical tourism a priority industry for boosting the Republic of Moldova's economy. Underlying these results are, undoubtedly, the patients who chose our country, the credibility of our doctors, and investments in quality,"* Natalia Ciobanu said. We remind you that in 2020, the export of medical services from the Republic of Moldova stood at $25 million. Over five years, this value more than tripled, exceeding $85 million in 2025. *** This year’s edition of the *Moldova Health Economy Forum*—the third to date—is part of the event lineup for *Moldova Business Week 2026*, taking place from September 28 to October 2.