WHO, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States of America (Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office), are working together to enhance data and digital health in the Republic of Moldova. A technical mission took place in February 2024 in Chisinau to strengthen the partnership and advance key collaborative directions, such as data modernization, with the Ministry of Health and National Agency for Public Health.
Moldova has established a strong e-government infrastructure and undertaken various initiatives to support and improve the national digital health system. The “2023–2030 Strategy for digital transformation of the Republic of Moldova”, was created in line with European Union standards and regulations, in collaboration with international experts.
“Effectively deploying digital solutions, which rely on personal health data, is a challenge for most countries, including Moldova,” said Miljana Grbic, WHO Representative in the Republic of Moldova. “But we have seen many examples of how health technology can revolutionize clinical research and policy-making and support health-care services. Moldova’s new digital strategy also covers the health-care sector, which is an important step towards fostering a future where all patients and health workers can benefit from innovation.”
Supporting public health leaders
To improve the use of data science in public health, WHO/Europe and the CDC launched the informatics fellowship for eastern Europe and central Asia in 2022. The programme aims to support future technical leaders, executive leadership, and mid-career public health officials. 4 representatives from Moldova will begin their participation in May 2024.
“When the health sector relies on various disconnected information systems, it can be difficult for a country to meet population health needs, while also adhering to the international reporting requirements,” said David Novillo Ortiz, Regional Adviser for Data and Digital Health at WHO/Europe. “By participating in specialized health informatics programmes, public health leaders in Moldova can receive vital support to identify and implement actions that will bridge the gaps and advance national digital health priorities.”
Other capacity-building initiatives, which are being led by WHO/Europe and the CDC to support Moldova’s digital health priorities, include the “Inter-governmental learning exchange to advance data-driven decision-making”, which will take place in May 2024. The “Informatics for leaders summit” in June 2024, tailored for senior-level decision-makers in eHealth, will also help to support mid-level leadership in public health and eHealth.
“The need for qualified health data scientists and informaticians has never been greater,” said Dr Charles Vitek, Regional Director for the CDC Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office. “Leveraging the value of health data and technology offers unparalleled opportunities for Moldova to meet the health needs of its citizens and the many refugees. We are happy to support the country’s digital transformation journey.”
With support from the European Union, WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova to define a digital health vision, strategy, actions, and roadmap, together with recommendations for IT infrastructure, services, and governance, as well as financial, legal and regulatory requirements.
Through these collaborations, WHO/Europe aims to enhance Moldova’s capacity to better govern digital transformation in the health sector and advance digital health literacy, while fostering a common understanding of the challenges, solutions, and priorities in data and digital health in the country. This is a key objective of the “Regional digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030”, which seeks to improve people’s health and well-being through digital technologies.
On 18 March 2024, the story was edited to add more information about the partnership between WHO and CDC. More information was also added about the technical mission to Chisinau, the joint work between WHO and health authorities of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the support from the EU.