Health specialists from the Republic of Moldova learned from their Lithuanian counterparts best practices on the integration of migrants into the Moldovan health system and how to ensure equitable access to medical services for vulnerable groups among migrants and refugees in the country. During a two-day working visit to Lithuania, Moldovan specialists gathered information that will serve as a basis for Moldova’s Sectoral Working Group on Health to shape policies and operationalize Moldova’s health system reforms for inclusiveness, according to a press release of IOM Moldova, quoted by IPN.
On-site visits to the Migrant Accommodation Center in Vilnius and the Foreigners’ Registration Center in Pabradė offered Moldova’s representatives a closer look at service provision, while the IOM-run Migration Information Center highlighted Lithuania’s support for migrant integration through language training, legal counselling, and psychological services, reads the press release.
According to Ester Ruiz de Azua, IOM Moldova’s Chief of Mission, the study visit to Lithuania marks a significant step in IOM’s commitment to enhancing access to health services for migrants and refugees in Moldova. “By learning from Lithuania’s best practices, we aim to strengthen the Moldovan health system and ensure that foreigners, regardless of their status, receive the care and support they deserve. This collaboration demonstrates our shared responsibility to create an inclusive health system that leaves no one behind,” said IOM Moldova’s Chief of Mission.
Tatiana Ciumaș, Deputy Head of the General Inspectorate for Migration, said that discussions were held at expert level, exchanging best practices on legal framework, practical implementation, statistics and envisaged policies on integration issues. The Lithuanian side appreciated the efforts of the Republic of Moldova in managing the crisis caused by the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
“We will continue to support sustainability and social inclusion, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive and responsive health system that meets the needs of all residents of the country”, mentioned Dr Miljana Grbic, WHO Representative to the Republic of Moldova.
In the context of the Chapter 24 Screening with the European Commission, the Republic of Moldova has set itself the objective of reviewing access to health services for certain categories of foreigners. Respectively, Lithuania, as a country affected by the migration crisis, is a good example to be analyzed from the national perspective when setting future policies, runs IOM’s press release.
