President of CAPDR, Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, at the FERM 2025 Health Panel: “Excessive centralization affects the efficiency of medical care”

The Moldova Regional Economic Forum reached its 19th edition this year, reaffirming its status as a strategic platform for dialogue and cooperation in the development of the Moldova Region.

Held within an international framework, the event brought together political leaders, investors, representatives of local and central public administrations, experts, and institutional partners from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, the European Union, and Asia, serving as a catalyst for concrete public policies, investments, and strategic partnerships.

One of the most sensitive and necessary panels – Panel 6: “Health and Medical Services in the Moldova Region” – highlighted the challenges in the regional healthcare system, including underfunding, shortage of medical personnel, excessive centralization of services, and the urgent need for reform. The dialogue focused not only on problems but also on solutions: infrastructure modernization, increased access in marginalized communities, and the identification of effective cross-border cooperation mechanisms.

In this context, the intervention of Ion Ștefanovici, President of the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development, stood out for its clarity, realism, and critical spirit.

During Panel 6 – “Health and Medical Services in the Moldova Region” of the 19th edition of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum, Ion Ștefanovici, President of the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development, delivered a practical and critical intervention regarding the current dysfunctions in the regional healthcare system and emphasized the urgency of a unified strategy for modernization and balancing of medical infrastructure.

“The message will be widely disseminated,” declared President Ion Ștefanovici, referring to the panel recordings that will be shared among professional communities and the general public in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. According to him, all viewpoints expressed by participants will be integrated into the Multiannual Programmatic Document of the Moldova Region, in the health section.

From Cooperation to Action

Ion Ștefanovici advocated for an integrated approach to cross-border collaboration, recalling that the Suceava-Bălți partnership already operates in education and energy sectors, and that expanding into healthcare should be a priority.

“This year, I put a strong emphasis on Bălți, because Suceava-Bălți are already interconnected… and I would like to advance this further into health, administration, and economy.”

In his view, some initiatives, such as acquisitions made by the shareholders of Incomlac (Bălți) in the Romanian food industry, already provide a valuable precedent for regional cooperation in healthcare.

Criticism of Excessive Centralization: “It Is Inefficient from Every Point of View”

A central message of his intervention was the criticism of the disproportionate concentration of medical resources in Iași. “It is inefficient to mass everything in Iași. It is inefficient from every point of view. The medical act is no longer efficient for the patient.” With over 4 million inhabitants in the Moldova Region, compared to 2.5 million in other regions of the country, the pressure on medical centers in Iași is considerable. Moreover, no one has a clear picture of the addressability from the Republic of Moldova to Iași or patient flows from other counties.

The Need to Decentralize Medical Services

Ștefanovici also emphasized the idea of redistributing specializations and medical services across the territory to better serve the population and improve the quality of medical care. “We need to have a document proposing solutions for the distribution of medical services and specialties in the region.”

He gave the example of the mountain area, such as Vatra Dornei, where rehabilitation services should be prioritized and developed locally. “How can you not provide rehabilitation in Vatra Dornei and instead rely on a service provided by a doctor from Cluj and one from Iași?”

Real Issues: Lack of Workforce and Migration Risk

Another sensitive point addressed was the shortage of medical personnel and the risk that young graduates might leave for larger centers or abroad. “We must find a formula to engage them. The worst scenario would be to lose them to Cluj, Bucharest, or elsewhere.”

In this regard, he argued that the partnership with Iași must continue, but with an emphasis on balance and territorial distribution. “The collaboration platform with Iași remains a cooperation formula… but we need to see how we implement it.”

Infrastructure, Emergencies, and… “The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu”

Referring to the Iași Regional Hospital project, planned in a hard-to-reach area, Ștefanovici mocked the lack of coherence in planning: “You can’t even get there… what was the name of that movie? ‘The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu.’”

According to him, an effective approach must also consider road accessibility, which currently hinders medical care and makes emergency interventions almost impossible without air support.

Conclusion: Dialogue and Collaboration Are Essential for Transforming the Healthcare System in the Moldova Region

Ion Ștefanovici’s intervention highlights the complexity and urgency of reforming the healthcare system in the Moldova Region, within a context marked by deep challenges: territorial imbalances, medical personnel migration, insufficient infrastructure, and increasing pressure on regional medical centers.

The Moldova Regional Economic Forum plays a crucial role as a platform for dialogue among administration, the private sector, experts, and international partners, capable of channeling ideas and concrete solutions to decision-makers. The health panel demonstrated that reforms cannot be designed or implemented in isolation but require close cooperation and well-thought-out cross-border partnerships with a unified vision adapted to the real needs of the population.

Balanced distribution of medical services across the territory, strengthening cooperation between university centers and local communities, as well as creating effective mechanisms to attract and retain medical personnel, are fundamental conditions to ensure quality medical care accessible to all.