How the healthcare system worked in 2023

Main statistical indicators, achievements, problems, plans and prospects. The PMR Healthcare Minister Christina Albul reported to the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky about what 2023 has become for the healthcare. The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Alexander Korshunov, Deputy Chairman Galina Antyufeeva and the head of the relevant parliamentary Committee on Social Policy and Healthcare Sergey Cheban took part in the work of the reporting board.

According to the State Statistics Service, as of January 1, 2024 population of Pridnestrovie decreased by 4 thousand people during the reporting period and amounted to 455741 people. Average life expectancy increased at the same time from 71.4 in 2021 to 74.4 years in 2023 (70 years for men, 78.3 years for women). 

There is a decline in the birthrate. 2588 children in 2023 were born: 1323 boys and 1265 girls. This is 6.6% less than in 2022. The highest birth rate is in Tiraspol 951 children (6.9 per 1000 population. The lowest rate is in the Slobodzeya and Grigoriopol districts - 4.6 per 1000 population. 374 children were born in Slobodzeya district, 174 children in the Grigoriopol district. According to the Ministry of Healthcare, the reasons for the low birth rate were the aging of the population, socio-economic factors (high levels of education and female employment), changes in social norms and values, as well as economic instability.

The overall mortality rate decreased by 5.3% and made 6170 people in 2023, and 6518 people in 2022.

The most common cause of death was diseases of the circulatory system (coronary heart disease, stroke, myocardial infarction) – 3358 people or 56.3% of the total number of deaths. Oncology is in second place – 1175 people, 19.7% of the total. Diseases of the digestive system (352 people) are in third place.

As the Minister of Healthcare noted in her report, mortality rates due to diseases of the nervous system (by 48.6%), congenital anomalies (by 27.3%), and neoplasms (by 11.5%) increased in 2023.

Pridnestrovians visited doctors 3.231.079 times last year. The number of periodic medical examinations is increasing. The medical campaign “Trucks of Health” did not cease to operate in 2023. Its goal is to improve access to medical care for rural residents. Healthcare workers covered more than 70 settlements and more than 5750 people last year.

High-tech specialized medical care continues to develop. 78 hip replacement surgeries and 12 knee replacement surgeries were performed in the mixed trauma department of the Republican Clinical Hospital last year. Minimally invasive endoscopic operations on the upper respiratory tract are becoming increasingly common. There has been an increase in simultaneous operations, which are performed simultaneously on several organs or systems of the body.

867 people were sent for treatment outside the republic at the expense of the budget last year. This is 20% less than a year earlier.

They also spoke in the course of the meeting of the reporting board about the work of state targeted programs in the field of healthcare. There are currently several such programs in the republic aimed at preventing and combating socially significant diseases – tuberculosis, oncology, HIV/AIDS infection, viral hepatitis B and C, cardiovascular diseases, etc. The Chairman of the relevant parliamentary Committee, Sergei Cheban, drew attention to the more than 2-fold increase in newly diagnosed patients diagnosed with hepatitis and inquired about the reasons for the increase in indicators. Christina Albul explained that rapid tests were purchased within the framework of the state program “Prevention of viral hepatitis B and C in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic for 2021-2024”, which helped diagnose and diagnose a larger number of sick people.

The Minister of Healthcare noted that the department prepared 32 initiatives to amend the current legislation last year. The Supreme Council has already adopted 20 of them in the final reading. Amendments and additions, which made it possible to increase salaries for medical workers were made to the republican budget for 2023.

Parliament adopted in December last year in the second final reading the amendments and additions to the law “On the fundamentals of protecting the health of citizens” and to the law “On the wages of public sector employees, the salary of military personnel and persons equal to them under the terms of payment of salary, and the salary of civil servants". New measures made it possible for employees of healthcare institutions with higher non-medical education to undergo certification and receive monthly salary bonuses for their qualification category.

Christina Albul paid attention to updating the infrastructure of the healthcare system. Work was carried out as part of the Capital Investment Fund program at 22 facilities of the Ministry of Healthcare.

One of the main achievements of the ministry last year was the transition of the Republican Clinical Hospital to a pilot project aimed at increasing wages.

The Chairman of the Government of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic gave a positive assessment of the activities of the Ministry of Healthcare. Alexander Rosenberg noted that more attention should be paid to disease prevention work. The head of the executive body instructed the Ministry of Healthcare to continue work in the direction of digitalization.

The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky also highly assessed the work of the Ministry of Healthcare. The President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic noted the effectiveness of the pilot project being implemented in the Republican Clinical Hospital and recalled that several more medical institutions of the republic are switching to the pilot project from April 1.

The President touched upon the situation with staffing. Today, medical organizations have 80.4% of doctors, 87.1% of paramedical staff, and 94.9% of junior staff. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the situation with the provision of medical institutions with specialists is much better than in other structures despite the difficulties.

The PMR President spoke positively about the activities of the Ministry of Healthcare in general, directing employees to further fruitful work and continuous improvement in all areas.