Moldova psychiatrist shortage triggers alarm from Ombudsman

The Ombudsman's Office of Moldova has issued an alarm regarding a critical shortage of psychiatrists in the country. During public hearings organized by the parliamentary commission for social protection, health, and family, Deputy Ombudsman Olesea Doronceanu reported that only 231 psychiatrists are currently managing approximately 143,000 patients with mental disorders.

Specific pressure was noted at the Botanica Community Mental Health Center, where one psychiatrist is responsible for 886 patients. Andrei Eșanu, interim director of the Clinical Psychiatric Hospital, stated that the current system lacks effective mechanisms for the early detection and prevention of individuals with potentially dangerous mental disorders. He emphasized the need for a formal communication and responsibility-transfer system between medical services, police, and social services to manage violence risks.

Parliamentary Vice-President Liliana Grosu recommended implementing violence risk assessment tools for all adults and improving the monitoring of mental health patients after they are discharged from medical facilities. Proposed solutions include creating local intersectoral cooperation mechanisms to identify risks early and expanding professional training programs.