Moldovan health ministry considers petition of women suffering following interaction with medical system

Chisinau, 23 January /MOLDPRES/ - The Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry (MSMPS) has considered a petition by those 98 women who said that they had suffered in the wake of interaction with the medical system, especially at perinatology institutions from Moldova. The ministry informed that it would undertake all needed measures to improve the management of quality and safety of the medical services.   

After analyzing the petition, the ministry worked out an action plan aimed at strengthening the capacities of the providers of medical assistance, enhancing the responsibility and competence of medical employees, observing the rights of patients and informing citizens about their rights.  

In this respect, the ministry issued an order, thereby demanding that all subdivisions, National Public Health Agency, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Raisa Pocalo excellence centre in medicine and pharmacy, centre for continuous education of medical and pharmaceutical staff, leaders of the public medical and sanitary institutions undertake all measures to fulfill the actions provided for in the document.   

Under the document, the institutions are to provide principles of communication with patients, observe their rights, elaborate clinic protocols and guides in order to improve the quality of medical services, revise the duties of the medical staff and clearly establish the powers and responsibilities of the medical personnel and irrevocable compliance with the ethics and deontology norms.    

Also, decision-makers are to update and complete the normative framework in the field of communication standards and psychological counseling, organize trainings of the medical staff on principles of the medical ethics and deontology. Also, competent employees will carry out actions of informing about the rights of patients, medical services which are free of charge or against payment, from which residents may benefit and the free phone service Green Line will be established at all medical institutions of Moldova.   

At the same time, MSMPS will work out and promote the legislation on the investigation and settlement of cases of medical errors and will revise the normative framework to ensure the patients’ rights in the medical act.

Earlier this month, a group of mothers who suffered in the wake of interaction with Moldova’s medical system submitted a declaration with a string of claims to more state’s institutions. Histories of 98 women who came across deficiencies in the medical system on the period of pregnancy and the one of birth were attached to the declaration. The demands were submitted concomitantly to the government, MSMPS, Office of Ombudsman and National Anticorruption Centre.    

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor A. Raileanu)