Maternity Ward Closed in Moldova: 5 More Regions at Risk

The maternity and gynecology ward at the state hospital in Moldova's Ştefan Vodă region has been closed. In a statement made on 1 Temmuz, Health Minister Emil Cheban stated that the decision was made due to the very low annual number of births. The minister emphasized that staff would not be laid off, but only a restructuring would take place. Furthermore, he announced that similar closure decisions could be made in 4-5 other hospitals facing the same situation. These statements were made in response to journalists' questions and have raised concerns about the future of healthcare services in the country.

The declining birth rates in rural areas of Moldova are making it difficult for hospitals to maintain such services. Only a few dozen births were taking place annually at the hospital in Ştefan Vodă. This situation became unsustainable in terms of both cost-effectiveness and the efficient use of medical staff. Minister Cheban expressed that the decision was taken as part of the rationalization of the health system. However, there are concerns that such closures could restrict access to childbirth services, especially for women living in rural areas.

The Ministry of Health is working on alternative solutions, such as mobile teams or directing patients to central hospitals, to replace the closed wards. Minister Cheban said that staff would be assigned to other units and there would be no job losses. However, healthcare workers and unions warn that this restructuring will increase workloads and decrease service quality. Especially in emergencies, referring patients to more distant hospitals could pose a risk.

Other hospitals in Moldova facing similar situations include healthcare institutions in the Orhei, Hîncești, Cahul, Edineț, and Bălți regions. It is stated that closure decisions could also be made in these hospitals due to low birth numbers. Minister Cheban said that these decisions are not final and that each hospital will be evaluated separately. However, he added that such steps are unavoidable for the financial sustainability of the health system.

Experts state that the closure of maternity wards could lead to a population decline and further loss of appeal for rural areas in the long term. Birth rates in Moldova, which are already low, could drop even further with the reduction of such services. The government plans to invest more in rural areas as part of health reforms. However, the decisions taken at this moment are creating uncertainty, especially for women who are going to give birth.