Moldova Ministry of Health proposes new law to expand rural pharmacy access

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova is proposing a new Pharmacy Law to address the significant disparity in medicine access between urban and rural areas. Currently, while 56% of the population resides in rural regions, only about one-third of pharmacies and their branches are located in villages. This imbalance is particularly acute when measured per 100,000 inhabitants, with urban areas having 101 pharmaceutical units compared to just 39 in rural areas.

To bridge this gap, the draft legislation, which is under public consultation until September 23, 2026, proposes diversifying how medicines reach underserved locations. Proposed solutions include the establishment of pharmaceutical points, branches, mobile pharmacies, and automated medicine dispensers. These services would not operate independently but would function under the responsibility of an authorized pharmacy and a coordinating pharmacist to ensure safety and supervision.

The initiative aims to complement existing programs like ‘Pharmacy in your village’ by providing tailored solutions for small localities where permanent pharmacies may not be economically viable. The project also seeks to expand the role of pharmacists and introduces mandatory certification requirements for personnel dispensing medications.