Moldovan cancer patients might benefit from treatment in private medical institutions

Chisinau, 19 October /MOLDPRES/ - The medical services of prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment and supervision in oncology sector might be provided by licenced and accredited private medical institutions. The parliament adopted a draft law to this end in the first reading today.   
The draft was submitted two years ago and is meant to provide equal rights to the medical institutions, no matter the ownership form, in fulfilling the task of rendering medical services in the oncology field.
At the same time, the cancer patients will have right to choose the medical institution and the physicians in the treatment of oncologic diseases.  
The draft triggered criticism in parliament. The MPs of the Party of Socialists and Party of Communists suggested that this initiative be ceased and the Oncological Institute be reorganized and endowed with new equipment.  
According to the draft’s authors, the international practice in the treatment of oncological diseases by the private sector is positive both in the countries with strong economies, such as the USA, Israel, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France and in the countries with developing economies.  
According to data put out by the Oncological Institute, more than 52,000 persons diagnosed with cancer were in physicians’ records in Moldova in 2016. At the same time, over 5,000 cancer patients annually die because of this disease.
(Reporter A. Zara, editor M. Jantovan)