Improving access to essential medicines in the Republic of Moldova

The Republic of Moldova is one of the former Soviet Union countries being widely documented as a reformer in terms of successful health financing policy and introducing mandatory health insurance. The benefit package covers the majority of hospital medicines but is limited in how much it covers outpatient pharmaceuticals. Policy responses have sought to increase coverage through higher budget allocations for pharmaceuticals and positive list extensions. However, with low affordability of medicines and limited public budgets, implementing universal health coverage is still facing significant challenges.