The needs in pediatric oncology in the Republic of Moldova and international practices discussed with doctors, officials, and health experts

Medical professionals specializing in pediatric oncology, officials, and health experts have identified the current needs within the field of pediatric oncology in the Republic of Moldova. These discussions took place during a roundtable titled "Methods for Identifying Needs in Pediatric Oncology in the Republic of Moldova," organized by the "Life Without Leukemia" Public Association and the Institute of Oncology.

Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco, who attended the event, stated that all necessary conditions would be created to allow children to receive treatment at home—where they feel most comfortable. "The medicines provided to them must be the most effective and of the highest quality, not the cheapest—as has consistently been the case in our procurement tender procedures. Children's health is not a paving contract. We will train medical staff abroad. Just this week, a team of doctors and nurses from the Institute of Oncology is visiting the oncology department at the 'Marie Curie' Hospital in Bucharest for a knowledge exchange. Soon, two other teams will travel to Germany and Slovakia. We are procuring equipment. We will procure whatever is needed—be it warmth, the right attitude, or smiles—just to see these children healthy",assured Minister Ala Nemerenco.

Mr. Ruslan Baltaga, Director of the Oncology Institute, also spoke about the importance of improving hospitalization conditions for young cancer patients, as well as the treatment they undergo. "As the manager of this institution, we are making every effort to create better treatment conditions. We are launching projects for the continuous training of doctors and the acquisition of equipment. We have initiated activities to implement the 'Pain-Free Hospital' project, aimed at reducing patient discomfort during medical procedures. We are very open to collaboration with the 'Life Without Leukemia' Association, which has become a trusted partner for many important projects—one of which was equipping the Oncology Institute's laboratory with a flow cytometer," Mr. Baltaga emphasized.

In addition to national authorities and local medical staff, the discussions were attended by representatives from the "Dăruiește Aripi" Association (Romania), the "Tabletochki" Foundation (Ukraine), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (USA), and the World Health Organization office in the Republic of Moldova. The meeting aimed to bring together medical professionals involved in treating children with cancer and health officials to discuss current needs in the field of pediatric oncology in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, opportunities for collaboration within the Global Alliance for Childhood Cancer were presented, alongside the experiences of Romania and Ukraine regarding cooperation among key stakeholders to address the needs of the pediatric oncology.

During the discussions, the shortcomings hindering the full provision of necessary treatments for children with cancer were outlined; the most significant issues include the lack of access to pediatric intensive care services at the Oncology Institute, the absence of on-site diagnostic imaging equipment (CT, MRI, PET-CT), concerns regarding medication quality, the lack of a pediatric cancer registry, and the absence of a collaboration agreement for pediatric bone marrow transplantation.

The identified needs and proposals will be analyzed, substantiated, and submitted to relevant national stakeholders to identify necessary resources and establish priority activities aimed at strengthening the healthcare system—specifically, improving the quality of cancer treatment for children.

The activity was carried out as part of the "Eastern Partnership – Solidarity Programme against COVID-19" project (advocacy component), financially supported by the European Union and implemented with the assistance of People in Need Moldova.

Photo source: Press Office of the Oncology Institute