Moldova faces healthcare strain from aging population and staff shortages

Moldova is facing significant challenges within its healthcare system due to an aging population and a critical shortage of medical personnel. Research indicates that by 2040, the number of citizens aged 65 and older will grow substantially, with the proportion of those aged 80 and above nearly doubling. This demographic shift is expected to drive up public health expenditures, with the share of spending for older adults projected to exceed one-third of the total by 2040.

Compounding these demographic pressures is a current deficit of 1,225 medical staff members. Health Minister Alexandru Gasnaș reported that the medical workforce is also aging rapidly; one in two doctors is over 55 years old, one in five is over 65, and only one in eight is under the age of 35. This creates a significant generational transfer problem. The most acute shortages are identified in family medicine, followed by intensive care specialists and radiologists.