PHOTO // People with disabilities to benefit from improved rehabilitation services; project worth about 2.5 million dollars launched by Moldova's Labour and Social Protection Ministry

People with disabilities in the next two years will benefit from improved rehabilitation services, modern equipment and assistive devices adapted to individual needs. The actions will be carried out through the project titled, Improving the inclusion of persons with disabilities through increased access to medical treatment, rehabilitation and assistive devices in Moldova.

According to the Labour and Social Protection Ministry (MMPS), approximately 160,000 people of Moldova currently have a recognized disability, representing 6.7 per cent of the population with usual residence. Their labour force participation rate is 18.4 per cent, compared with 48.1 per cent among people without disabilities. Access to rehabilitation services and assistive devices is limited by outdated equipment, long waiting periods and complex procedures, while care work is largely carried out by women in the family.

In addition to modernizing equipment, a digital case-management system will be developed and an Innovation Lab will be established in partnership with universities, in order to design and test assistive technologies. Wheelchairs, walking frames, canes, prostheses and specialized glasses will also be purchased and distributed according to needs.

“We want people with disabilities to have access to quality rehabilitation services and the assistive devices they need to lead an as independent life as possible. It is important to identify existing barriers and improve services based on beneficiaries’ needs,” said Natalia Plugaru, Labour and Social Protection Minister.

Modernization, innovation and direct support

This is precisely what a new project, worth 2.5 million dollars, aims to address. Funded by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the initiative seeks to improve access for people with disabilities to medical treatment, rehabilitation services and assistive devices through interventions that combine institutional modernization, innovation and direct support.

Over the next two years, the project will assess existing services and develop a roadmap for improving the system, while supporting the modernization of CREPOR through new equipment and digital solutions. The institution is expected to receive at least 40 units of modern equipment, enabling it to serve up to 2,500 patients annually. The project will also support specialists’ training and the creation of an Innovation Lab, involving academia in identifying solutions tailored to the needs of people with disabilities. In addition, the needs of these individuals will be assessed and devices will be distributed to those who need them most.

“We hope these efforts will bring tangible benefits to the 164,000 people with disabilities in Moldova and help them lead more independent, dignified and fulfilling lives. China is ready to share its experience and expertise with Moldova through this project. Over the years, the Chinese government has made sustained efforts to improve the well-being of China’s 85 million people with disabilities, by strengthening social security systems and public services, promoting technological innovation and expanding access to rehabilitation and assistive services,” said Dong Zhihua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Moldova.

This is the first tripartite cooperation project between the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the government of Moldova and UNDP, with the Labour and Social Protection Ministry serving as the main national partner. However, China’s support for CREPOR is not a novelty. Many of the machines and pieces of equipment currently used by the institution were also donated by the Chinese Government more than 20 years ago and have long exceeded their standard service life.

“Our ambition is to work together with people with disabilities and national institutions, in order to ensure their full and effective participation in the social, economic and community life of Moldova. Through this project, we aim to shift the focus from what people with disabilities cannot do to what they can achieve with the right support, including through more accessible jobs, services, buildings and information, as well as by reducing discrimination,” said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative in Moldova.

How timely access to an assistive device and adequate support can shape a person’s life path is also illustrated by the experience of Dumitru Zabolotni. He received his first visual assistance device shortly before starting first grade; at the time, he could neither read nor write. This autumn marked the beginning of his studies at the Technical University of Moldova, and he says with conviction that access to assistive devices, particularly a closed-circuit television magnifier, enabled him to pursue his dream. His mother knows that without the support he received at the right time, “he would have remained just an intelligent child who would have reached a certain point in his development and certainly would not have made it to university.” Since 2025, CREPOR has also provided devices for people with visual impairments.

The project, with a budget of 2,497,391 dollars, provided by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), runs as of October 1, 2026, till September 30, 2028.