Thanks to its past achievements and good reputation, SDC is ideally positioned to support Moldova in addressing the remaining transition gaps in the health sector: a highly oversized and ineffective public hospital sector; a fragmented primary health care sector with a poorly functioning referral system; weak public health services; and insufficient financial protection of the Moldovan population against catastrophic health expenditures.

SDC is engaging in improving the quality of and access to primary healthcare (PHC) services, shifting the focus from disease-centered to patient-centered care, increasing health awareness, promoting healthy behavior, and strengthening accountability mechanisms. A special focus is being put on redressing inequity in access to health services and on closing the widening gender gap in health outcomes, which negatively affects boys and men.

With regard to the promotion of healthy behavior, Swiss interventions is engaging with communities and LPAs to promote supportive environments for healthier lifestyles. SDC is working with health professionals and community-based organizations (CBOs) in order to stimulate men/boys and women/girls to play a more active role in improving their own health. Efforts are also being made to improve people’s healthcare-seeking behavior and to increase their trust in the healthcare system.

At national level, SDC is contributing to the reform of public health services, which aims at shifting the focus from mostly sanitary control towards health promotion and prevention.