Ministry of Health keeps Ștefan Vodă maternity ward closed

The Moldovan Ministry of Health has decided not to reopen the Level I perinatal center at the Ștefan Vodă District Hospital. Following an evaluation of the period between July 30 and September 11, 2026, a commission concluded there were no medical consequences or significant access issues that would justify reinstating the facility.

During the monitoring period, approximately 30 women from the Ștefan Vodă district required hospitalization for childbirth. Most were directed to the Level II perinatal center in Căușeni, with an average transport time of approximately 37 minutes. The commission reported that no cases of refusal of admission or transport delays caused severe maternal or perinatal consequences. One case of rapid premature birth in an ambulance was noted, but it was determined not to be caused by the distance to the Căușeni facility.

Instead of reopening the maternity ward, the Ministry proposes maintaining local capacity for gynecological emergencies. The Ștefan Vodă District Hospital is expected to organize up to five gynecological beds and maintain an obstetrician-gynecologist unit. Cases exceeding the local hospital's capacity will continue to be transferred to Căușeni or other appropriate medical institutions.