Event highlights
As the Republic of Moldova continues to respond to the long-term health needs of refugees from Ukraine, a strategic shift is underway – from short-term emergency measures to sustainable, nationally-led solutions. In this context, WHO and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova convened the Nexus Workshop on advancing a sustainable, inclusive and resilient health system for refugees and host communities in the Republic of Moldova.
The workshop is part of the “Health action for refugee response sustainability” project funded by the European Union (EU), marking an important milestone in supporting the Republic of Moldova’s shift from an emergency-oriented response towards more sustainable, nationally-led approaches to refugee health and health system consolidation. The event was jointly funded by the EU and Switzerland as part of their efforts to strengthen national health system and refugee response.
Systems-based solutions
More than 4 years since the start of the war in Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova continues to host one of the highest numbers of refugees per capita.
Approximately 100 000 refugees from Ukraine currently reside in the Republic of Moldova and nearly 90 000 benefit from temporary protection, which enables access to employment, education and health services.
While the Republic of Moldova and its partners have made substantial efforts to maintain access to essential services, the protracted nature of the crisis has underscored the need to move beyond short-term humanitarian arrangements towards more sustainable, systems-based solutions.
The Nexus Workshop brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Health Insurance Company, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova, United Nations agencies, nongovernmental organizations, health-care institutions and humanitarian organizations engaged in the refugee response in the country.
The event served as an important platform for discussing how humanitarian and development efforts can align with national priorities, strengthen national systems and continue to respond effectively to the needs of both refugees and host communities.
“The Republic of Moldova’s response to the refugee situation has demonstrated the strength of solidarity, but the next stage requires sustainability. Through the Nexus process, we aim to ensure that refugee health needs are addressed through national systems, with clear responsibilities, coordinated support and a shared vision for equitable access to health services for all people living in the Republic of Moldova,” stressed Angela Paraschiv, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
Sustainable refugee health care
Through a structured consultation process, participants identified priority areas for joint action across financial protection, service delivery, health workforce, governance and emergency preparedness. Discussions highlighted the importance of reducing fragmentation, improving coordination and ensuring that services currently supported by external partners can be progressively integrated into national systems while maintaining continuity of care.
“The EU will continue to support the Republic of Moldova in its transition from emergency response to a sustainable health system that serves both refugees and host communities. Through our partnerships, we are investing in long-term solutions that strengthen resilience, ensure equitable access to health services and uphold the Republic of Moldova’s remarkable solidarity with displaced people from Ukraine,” emphasized Martina Spernbauer, Team Leader for Governance, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.
“A sustainable response requires early planning, effective coordination and ensuring that no one falls through the gaps during transition,” said Zinaida Bezverhni, National Programme Officer for Health, Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova.
Outcomes
A key outcome of the process was the development of a Health Nexus Strategy and an accompanying Operational Plan.
Together, these documents provide a practical framework for the next phase of the response. The Strategy outlines the overall vision and strategic direction for transitioning from parallel humanitarian service delivery towards integrated, sustainable and nationally-led approaches. The Operational Plan translates this vision into concrete actions, responsibilities and timelines to guide implementation.
“The Republic of Moldova has shown solidarity and commitment in responding to the needs of refugees from Ukraine. The focus now must be on ensuring that this response is increasingly anchored in a strong national system,” stressed Dr Miljana Grbic, WHO Representative to the Republic of Moldova.
By supporting this process, the Ministry of Health, WHO and partners, including the EU, are helping to ensure that the response to refugee health needs provides immediate access to services and contributes to the development of a stronger, more resilient and inclusive health system in the Republic of Moldova.