Moldova (MD)

Moldova is Eastern Europe's hidden gem — an EU candidate country since June 2022 and one of the continent's most affordable destinations, with a thriving wine culture, warm hospitality and a rapidly modernising capital.

Capital: Chișinău

Region: Europe

Language: Romanian

Currency: MDL (L)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 22)

Emergency: 112

Healthcare in Moldova

Moldova has a compulsory national health insurance system (CNAM — Compania Națională de Asigurări în Medicină) that funds public healthcare through mandatory contributions from employers and employees. The public system provides basic care through polyclinics (policlinici) and state hospitals. Quality varies significantly — Chișinău facilities are far better than rural areas. A thriving private healthcare sector has developed alongside the public system, offering shorter waits and better equipment. Most expats use a combination: CNAM for routine care, private clinics for specialist or elective treatment.

Moldova ranks 98th in the WHO World Health Organization 2024 health system performance index. Healthcare quality in Chișinău is significantly better than the national average. Major private hospitals (Medpark, Sancos) provide EU-standard care.

Public healthcare: CNAM — Compania Națională de Asigurări în Medicină

National Health Insurance Company

Eligibility:All persons with a valid CNAM polița (insurance policy), including employees paying CNAM contributions (4.5% of salary), self-enrolled freelancers/retirees paying the fixed premium (~MDL 4,056/year in 2026), and state-insured categories (pensioners, children, students, unemployed). Expats with a valid residence permit and CNAM enrolment are fully eligible.

Monthly cost:MDL 1,053/month (fixed annual premium MDL 12,636 ÷ 12, 2026) for self-enrolled; employees pay 4.5% of gross salary

What's included:

GP (medic de familie) consultations at the registered polyclinic
Emergency care (urgențe) — fully covered regardless of insurance status
Hospital admission for medically necessary conditions
Basic diagnostic tests and imaging (at polyclinic)
Essential medicines on the compensated medicines list (compensate)
Maternity care — antenatal, delivery and postnatal
Preventive vaccination programme
Paediatric care for children under 18
Dental care — emergency extractions and basic treatment for children

Not included (or co-pay required):

Cosmetic and elective procedures
Most dental treatment for adults
Glasses and contact lenses
Private room upgrades in hospitals
Specialist consultations without GP referral (or co-payment applies)
Some advanced diagnostics (MRI, CT) — long waits in public system
Experimental or non-standard treatments

Co-payments:Emergency care is free. GP visits at registered polyclinic are free for CNAM cardholders. Specialist visits require a GP referral or a small co-payment (MDL 20–50). Many medicines require co-payment even on the compensated list. Dental: most adult dental care requires full payment at private clinics.

How to enrol:Employed persons are enrolled automatically through payroll (4.5% CNAM deducted monthly). Freelancers and ÎI owners pay the fixed annual premium (MDL 12,636 in 2026) at any CNAM office or via e-banking. Register with a polyclinic (medic de familie) in your district with your IDNP and CNAM policy number. Present CNAM card (poliță de asigurare medicală) at every appointment.

Waiting period:No waiting period for emergency care. Routine GP: same or next-day in most polyclinics. Specialist referral: 1–4 weeks in Chișinău; longer in rural areas.

Private healthcare: Private Healthcare Sector — Medpark, Sancos, Meddo, Clinica Avicenna

Who can use it:Open to anyone willing to pay. No insurance required for private consultations.

When it makes sense:When you need a specialist quickly, want English-speaking doctors, require advanced diagnostics (MRI, CT, lab work), or want a more comfortable hospital experience. Private clinics also offer dental, ophthalmology and cosmetic services not covered by CNAM. Cost is significantly lower than Western European private healthcare.

Monthly cost:GP visit: MDL 300–600; specialist: MDL 500–1,200; international health insurance: EUR 800–2,500/year

Major providers:

Medpark International Hospital (medpark.md) — best-equipped private hospital, English-speaking staffSancos Medical Centre (sancos.md) — diagnostics, surgery, international patient serviceMeddo — multi-specialty private clinic, strong oncologyClinica Avicenna — affordable private care, multiple locationsDentotal Protect / Dent Nord — dental chainsNeoVision — ophthalmology specialists

Accessing care

GP system

Register with a medic de familie (family doctor / GP) at the polyclinic assigned to your address. Your IDNP-registered address determines your polyclinic. Book appointments by phone or in person. GPs are the gatekeepers for specialist referrals in the public system. In private clinics, you can book specialist appointments directly.

Specialist referral

Public system: GP writes a trimitere (referral) valid for a specific specialist visit. Referrals are free. Without a referral, specialist visits incur a co-payment or are not covered. Private system: no referral needed — book directly by phone or online at medpark.md, sancos.md, etc.

Emergency care

Call 112 for all emergencies (ambulance, police, fire) — Moldova unified emergency number. Emergency rooms (urgențe) at IMSP Spitalul Clinic Republican (Str. Testemițeanu) and IMSP Spitalul Clinic Municipal (Bd. Decebal) are the main public emergency facilities. Private hospitals also accept emergencies. Emergency care is provided regardless of insurance status.

Out of hours

Evening and weekend GP services: consult the polyclinic duty doctor (medic de gardă). Private clinics like Medpark have 24-hour emergency departments. Pharmacies (farmacii) in central Chișinău are open 24/7 (Pharmacie Felicia, Remediu) — pharmacists can advise on minor ailments.

Prescriptions

Doctors issue rețete medicale (prescriptions). Compensated medicines on the national list are dispensed at pharmacies with a co-payment for CNAM cardholders. Private prescriptions are full-price. Most common medications (antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories) are available over-the-counter without prescription at pharmacies.

Dental

Basic emergency dental extractions are covered by CNAM for children and emergencies. Adult dental care is almost entirely private. Private dental chains (Dentotal Protect, Dent Nord, Dent Professional) charge MDL 400–900 for fillings, MDL 300–600 for consultations. Quality is good and prices are significantly lower than Western Europe.

Mental health

CNAM covers psychiatric care through state dispensaries. Private psychologist sessions cost MDL 500–1,000/hour. English-speaking therapists available in Chișinău (via Expat.md community). Linia Verde 0800 1 5100 is a 24/7 free mental health helpline in Romanian. The Moldovan Association of Psychologists maintains a practitioners register.

Maternity

Antenatal care covered by CNAM through the medic de familie and maternity clinic (consultația femeii). Hospital delivery at public maternities is free for CNAM cardholders. Private maternity wards at Medpark and Sancos cost MDL 15,000–50,000 for standard delivery. Birth registration at ASP within 30 days of birth.

Expat-specific advice

First steps on arrival:

Obtain IDNP (Moldovan personal identification number) through BMA residence registration
Pay CNAM annual premium (MDL ~4,056) at CNAM office or via bank to get your CNAM polița (insurance card)
Register with a medic de familie at the polyclinic in your district
Locate the nearest 24-hour pharmacy to your home address
Save the emergency number (112) and Medpark hospital emergency line in your phone
Consider international health insurance as a supplement — Medpark accepts international policies directly

Finding English-speaking doctors:English-speaking doctors are available at Medpark International Hospital (most reliable for English), Sancos Medical Centre and some private specialists. Ask specifically for English-speaking (vorbitor de engleză) when booking. Many younger doctors also speak French or German. Medpark has a dedicated international patients service.

International insurance:International health insurance (Cigna Global, Allianz Care, Axa) is accepted at Medpark and Sancos for direct billing. Present your insurance card and pre-authorisation number before treatment. Out-of-pocket costs are very manageable in Moldova — many expats pay privately and claim reimbursement rather than seeking pre-authorisation.

Emergency card info:Carry your CNAM polița card at all times. Write key medical information (blood type, allergies, medications) on a card in Romanian. In emergencies, state your IDNP to hospital staff — it links to your CNAM record.

EHIC notes:Moldova is not in the EU — EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is not valid here. EU citizens must have their own CNAM enrolment or private insurance to access non-emergency care. Emergency care is always provided regardless of insurance.

Pharmacies (Farmacie)

Hours:Mon–Sat 8:00–20:00 (most); 24/7 pharmacies in central Chișinău (Farmacia Felicia, Remediu)

After-hours / emergency:Several central Chișinău pharmacies are open 24/7. Duty pharmacy (farmacie de gardă) information posted at closed pharmacies. Hotline: Farmacia Felicia operates round the clock at multiple city locations.

Prescription rules:Many medicines sold over-the-counter without prescription — including common antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antifungals. Controlled substances (opioids, strong benzodiazepines) require an official prescription. Pharmacists (farmaciști) are well-trained and will advise on equivalent generic medications.

Available over-the-counter:

Paracetamol (Panadol, Efferalgan)
Ibuprofen (Nurofen)
Amoxicillin (antibiotic — OTC in Moldova)
Buscopan (spasmolytics)
Smecta (gastrointestinal)
Colebil, Enterosgel (digestive)
Augmentin equivalent generics
Antihistamines (Zyrtec, Loratidin)

Typical costs

GP visit (with insurance)	Free at registered polyclinic (CNAM)
GP visit (private pay)	MDL 300–600 (EUR 15–31) at private clinic
Specialist visit	MDL 500–1,200 (EUR 26–62) private; co-payment MDL 20–50 at public with referral
Emergency visit	Free (emergency services regardless of insurance)
MRI scan	MDL 2,000–4,500 (EUR 103–231) at private diagnostic centre
Prescription average	MDL 50–300 depending on medication (compensated medicines cheaper with CNAM)
Dental check-up	MDL 200–400 (EUR 10–21)
Baby delivery	Free at public maternity; MDL 15,000–50,000 (EUR 769–2,565) at private hospital

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