Moldova targets major reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality by 2030

The Moldovan government has approved a national program for sexual and reproductive health for the years 2026–2030, aimed at significantly reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. The program seeks to reduce maternal mortality by approximately seven times and decrease neonatal deaths within the first month of life by about one-third by 2030.

Key initiatives include the introduction of electronic pregnancy records to monitor high-risk pregnancies, updated neonatal care protocols, and systematic monitoring of cesarean sections to reduce their rate from 32.5% in 2025 to a maximum of 29.3% by 2030. Additionally, the government plans to expand funding for in vitro fertilization (IVF), aiming to increase the number of eligible beneficiaries from 37 to 1,000 by 2030.

The total estimated cost for the program is approximately 171.3 million lei. These measures come as Moldova faces demographic challenges, including a 6.6% decrease in births recorded in 2025 compared to the previous year and rising concerns regarding infertility and high cesarean section rates.