REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Thematic Panel:

Health and Medical Services in the Moldova Region

Speaker:
Dr. Pavel FLOREA – Director of IMSP Family Doctors Center, Bălți

Topic of Intervention:
“Family Doctors’ Services in the Municipality of Bălți: Essential Role, Current Challenges, and Development Directions”

Dr. Pavel Florea, director of IMSP – Family Doctors Center Bălți, delivered an honest yet alarming overview of the current state of primary healthcare in northern Moldova. Between chronic staff shortages, outdated infrastructure, and urgent digitalization needs, his message was clear: “The primary healthcare system is maintained by sacrifice, not sustainability.“

Family Medicine at the Limit: Few Staff, Enormous Demand

“Our institution serves a population of about 133,000 people, with approximately 430,000 visits annually and 18,000 home visits. Yet, only 70% of physician positions are filled. The rest remain vacant.”

In a system already strained by the pandemic and professional exodus, the numbers presented by Dr. Florea speak volumes. Of the 160 physician positions planned, nearly one third are unfilled. At the same time, there is immense pressure on those who remain, especially as 30% of doctors are already at retirement age.

“Doctors are exhausted. Young doctors either do not come or leave quickly. Last year, we lost a pediatrician who chose the private sector. It’s a personal choice, but symptomatic.”

Infrastructure: Between 1929 and the Idea of the Future

“Some of our health centers operate in buildings dating back to 1929. It is inefficient to invest in them. They no longer meet either norms or modern needs.”

Of the six health centers comprising the Bălți network, only two buildings currently meet modern standards. The others are either old and inadequate or, in some cases, located in unsuitable spaces: one center is housed in a residential block where sewage leaks daily disrupt medical activity.

“You can’t talk about medical quality when water leaks in your office. When there is no ramp, and the elderly must climb stairs for a consultation. We managed to install a new, high-capacity elevator, but needs far exceed what we could achieve.”

In this context, Dr. Florea announced a strategy of network reconfiguration — consolidating centers and completely modernizing infrastructure. The priority will be Health Center No. 1, for which a full rehabilitation project is being prepared.

Digitalization — Between Will and Institutional Obstacles

The doctor acknowledged that there is local initiative for digital modernization — maturity audits, laboratory workflow automation, digitization of medical records — but these efforts are blocked by the rigidity of the national IT system.

“We depend on the Republic’s IT system. Until its modernization is completed, we cannot synchronize all digital services.”

Children and Youth in a Moldy Space

“The Youth-Friendly Center is in the basement. We have humidity, we have mold. And that’s where our children are — the future. We cannot leave them in inadequate conditions.”

This is one of the most pressing realities highlighted in the speech: volunteers and young patients who come to counseling and mental health support centers face infiltration, dampness, and lack of comfort. A plan for waterproofing and drainage was proposed, but funding is limited.

Hope: Young Doctors and Residency Reforms

A positive element raised was the modification of medical residency placement procedures. Residents are now assigned to territories from the first year of studies, with an obligation to serve at least five years in the system.

“Just recently, two residents came to Bălți. We hope they will stay. That can be a breath of fresh air.”

However, the Center’s director stressed that this effort must be matched by investments in conditions, infrastructure, equipment, and motivating salaries. “Otherwise, their choice will be simple — they will leave.“

Conclusion: Family Medicine Between Reality, Resilience, and Reform

The speech of Dr. Pavel Florea was sincere and solution-oriented, clearly outlining the major challenges of family medicine in Bălți: personnel shortages, outdated infrastructure, huge pressure on doctors, and lack of modern equipment.

Instead of a defensive plea, he proposed a concrete vision for reconstruction, based on consolidating health centers, investing in digitalization, energy-efficient technologies, and attracting young specialists through partnerships and better conditions.