Treatment Closer to Home: Cancer Patients in Bălți and the Regions Now Have Access to Local Chemotherapy

As of October 12, chemotherapy courses have been launched at the Bălți Clinical Hospital. The decentralization of oncology care will allow patients to undergo demanding treatments in their hometowns, saving the physical and financial resources they would otherwise spend traveling to the capital. As emphasized by the Ministry of Health of Moldova, the main advantage of this initiative is the preservation of patients' physical and financial resources. For individuals weakened by illness, as well as those with limited mobility, long journeys to Chișinău have often been a severe ordeal.

Quality and Safety: How Will It Work?

Many patients worry that treatment in regional hospitals might be of lower quality than in the capital. The Ministry of Health of Moldova dispels these concerns, noting that uniform treatment standards are strictly applied in accordance with national clinical protocols. The indications and chemotherapy regimens are determined by the multidisciplinary oncology council at the Oncology Institute. Initial assessments and, if necessary, additional examinations are still conducted at the Institute. Prior to the launch of the service, all medical staff at the Bălți Hospital underwent specialized training, covering everything from administering the procedure to monitoring patients and managing potential adverse reactions. Important: In Bălți, only types of chemotherapy that can be safely administered under the hospital's current conditions will be provided.

The Bălți Hospital is the latest addition to the map of oncology decentralization in Moldova. Previously, this model was successfully implemented in eight other regional hospitals: Briceni, Cahul, Florești, Orhei, Sângerei, Ștefan Vodă, Anenii Noi, and Soroca. The Ministry of Health of Moldova assures that the network expansion will continue. New departments will be opened only in locations with trained staff, the necessary equipment, and, crucially, appropriate conditions for safe treatment.