Dr. Mircea BORDINIUC, Chief Plastic Surgery Physician, at FERM 2025: “Health must be considered as essential infrastructure, not as an administrative luxury”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
Strategic Investments in the Moldova Region
Speaker:
Dr. Mircea Bordiniuc – Chief Plastic Surgery Physician, Suceava County Hospital
Topic of the Intervention:
“Overcrowding of Large Centers vs. Lack of Local Services. Regional Solutions, Partnerships, Medical Decentralization”
In a highly articulate and candid speech delivered during Panel 6 of the Regional Economic Forum Moldova — dedicated to health and medical services — Dr. Mircea Bordiniuc, chief plastic surgeon and coordinator of the operating unit at “Saint John the New” Suceava County Hospital, offered a comprehensive overview of the realities of the regional medical system: from remarkable achievements to bureaucratic blockages, staff shortages, and the risks of overburdening healthcare professionals.
Suceava – a County Hospital with University-Level Technologies
“Suceava County Hospital is a success story in the medical landscape of the county,” stated Dr. Bordiniuc early in his speech. The hospital has experienced notable development in recent years, with investments in advanced medical technology and equipment comparable to university centers: MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, and interventional radiology.
“The technique for performing the Santinella lymph node procedure, which we learned from books and practiced only in university centers abroad, is now available in Suceava.”
The nuclear medicine department has become a key pillar in oncological diagnostics, and waiting times for critical investigations have been significantly reduced, especially for priority cases.
Another major achievement: development of the stroke unit and interventional radiology department, where dedicated doctors intervene promptly in stroke cases, making the difference between recovery and disability.
“Investment in this service is truly worthwhile. Patients return to active life thanks to rapid intervention.”
Regarding oncology, the hospital benefited from a new dedicated building, but the facility alone is not enough: without medical staff, services risk remaining only on paper.
Human Resources Crisis: Between Blockage and Disappointment
Dr. Bordiniuc spoke openly about the negative effects of past scandals and how these affect the hospital’s ability to attract young doctors.
“Our hospital has become less attractive for young specialists starting their careers. But we, the younger generation, want to change this perception through the power of example.”
The unblocking of positions is awaited with hope, especially for the opening of the palliative care department, one of the county’s most pressing unmet needs.
Palliative Care – An Ignored Humanitarian Need
The oncology department is overwhelmed with patients, and the lack of a robust public palliative care system leaves many patients at the mercy of their families, sometimes in inhumane conditions.
“Patients must be helped to pass away with dignity, without suffering and without the dehumanization implied by lack of care.”
Dr. Bordiniuc emphasized that existing services are insufficient, often inaccessible due to costs, and that urgent effective public solutions are needed.
Digitization – Between Dream and Redundant Bureaucracy
The implementation of the electronic patient record at Suceava was an important step, but actual application remains fragmented and bureaucratic.
“We write the same things in three different places. It is a waste of time and energy in a system where the doctor’s time is a vital resource.”
The doctor advocated for a unified, national digital system that would eliminate redundancies, allow automatic transmission of medical documents between institutions, and ensure the doctor’s access to the patient’s history regardless of location.
Telemedicine: Useful but Unregulated
Although the pandemic accelerated telemedicine use, especially in counties with limited specialists, the lack of a clear legal framework makes it risky for both parties.
“It is difficult to give a diagnosis based only on an image. We need legislation that protects both the patient and the doctor.”
He gave the concrete example of plastic surgery: there are only three doctors in the entire county, and smaller hospitals constantly send images for unofficial, unaccounted, and unpaid consultations.
Overcrowding and the Public System in Crisis
“Our hospital is full. Patients come from across the county, sometimes due to lack of alternatives.”
Increased demand has led to overcrowding. Many insured patients cannot get timely consultations and have to turn to private providers, where the state should subsidize services to ensure equity.
At the same time, the state must remain the guarantor of emergencies — a domain where private hospitals cannot consistently cope.
“Many of our patients are uninsured, come from the diaspora, and receive emergency treatment free of charge.”
This reality puts pressure on public hospitals. Dr. Bordiniuc expressed concerns regarding the implementation of mandatory health contributions and the lack of clear mechanisms to manage patients outside the contribution system.
Medical Education: Opportunity and Responsibility
Finally, Dr. Bordiniuc welcomed the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Suceava — a historic step for the county, but one that also brings new pressure on hospitals.
“Young people need to be well trained. But it is difficult to provide quality medical education in an overburdened hospital.”
He proposed involving other hospitals in the county in student training to share responsibility and offer diversified education.
Conclusion: A Clear Plea for Realism, Coherence, and Equity
Dr. Mircea Bordiniuc’s speech combined acknowledgement of real progress in Suceava with a constructive critique of systemic obstacles affecting the entire healthcare system in Moldova.
Far from a festive message, the doctor called for concrete measures: attracting medical staff, reforming digitization, creating a legal framework for telemedicine, access to palliative care for all, a functional hospital network, and support for local medical education.
In a regional development economic forum, the voice of a frontline doctor provided perhaps the most sincere and pragmatic perspective: without functional health, there can be no sustainable development.
