Healthcare challenges emerge in Romania and Moldova

In Romania, ITM Cluj inspectors conducted audits of 16 private medical units between August 31 and September 4, 2026. The inspections identified several deficiencies, including a lack of risk assessments, incomplete staff instructions, and insufficient measures for workers exposed to specific risks, such as medical oxygen usage. Fines and warnings totaling 4,000 lei were issued alongside 12 remediation orders.

Separately, Dorel Săndesc, manager of Timișoara County Hospital, warned that hospitals face critical funding shortages for emergency and intensive care services. He noted that current allocations are below 2025 levels and attributed the difficulty in resolving these gaps to the lack of a stable government capable of implementing budget rectifications.

In Moldova, the Ministry of Health is proposing a mechanism to allow the temporary import of essential medicines that are currently unavailable on the domestic market, even if they are not officially authorized in the country. Minister Alexandru Gasnaș stated the goal is to move from reacting to crises to identifying patient risks in advance through an early warning system and a list of missing essential medicines.