Healthcare access challenges persist in Romania and Moldova

Healthcare systems in Romania and Moldova are facing significant challenges regarding medical access and specialized care. In Romania, rural areas are experiencing a critical shortage of medical professionals. In Mureș County, 45 family doctor positions remain vacant, with two-thirds located in rural communities. This imbalance is driven by the fact that while 45% of Romania's population lives in rural areas, they are served by only 7.5% of the country's doctors. Experts note a trend of “desertification” in family medicine, as maintaining rural practices is difficult due to low insurance coverage and lack of professional attraction.

In Moldova, the medical system is struggling to meet the demand for cardiac surgeries. While over 1,000 heart operations are performed annually, this covers only about half of the estimated 2,500 required interventions. High-complexity procedures, such as heart transplants and circulatory assistance, remain unavailable locally. Medical professionals emphasize that due to the high costs of cardiovascular treatments, preventative care and healthy lifestyle choices are vital to reducing the incidence of these diseases.