Moldova opens 136 rural pharmacies via new program

Under the “Pharmacy in your village” program, 136 pharmaceutical units have been opened in rural localities in Moldova during its first two years. An additional 27 locations are currently in the process of launching, with authorities working to secure physical spaces and necessary staff.

Elena Pascalla, head of the Communication Service at the Medical and Pharmaceutical Agency, noted that the project's primary impact is the time and money saved by citizens who no longer need to travel long distances to access medications, compensated drugs, and electronic prescription services.

A significant challenge remains the identification of qualified personnel for these rural locations. To address this, Government Decision 10/26 of 2023 introduced more flexible requirements, allowing medical specialists, including medical assistants, to operate these pharmacies to ensure population access to medicine.