EU to provide Moldova with 12 million euros for buying ambulances

Chisinau, 22 June /MOLDPRES/ - The Council of Europe Development Bank has approved the providing of a 12-million-euros loan to Moldova for renewing the park of ambulances of the National Centre of Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Assistance. 

The information and media communication service of the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry has reported that, with the money borrowed from EU, 168 ambulances would be purchased, of which 35 units for intensive therapy and 133 B-type ambulances (first aid ambulances). They will be bought on contest basis, in line with the international standards in the field. 

According to the quoted source, once the park of ambulances renewed, the capacity of intervention of the Emergency Medical Assistance Service will be enhanced and the quality and quickness of medical services provided to patients, especially in rural regions, will be improved.  

This year, the government earmarked 51 million lei for buying 69 ambulances. The first ten ambulances, out of 69 ones, have been brought to Moldova, with another 59 ambulances due to be supplied till late June. The ambulances will be distributed to 32 pre-hospital emergency first-aid stations, where the extent of wear of ambulances is of more than 90 per cent, in the central, northern, southern and Gagauz regions.   

In 2017, more than 868,000 citizens benefited from services of ambulance physicians.   

(Reporter A. Zara, editor A. Raileanu)