On September 12, 2018, the Ministry of Finance, as the national authority for external assistance coordination, hosted the Communication Forum on Health Sector Issues in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection and the World Health Organization Country Office, representing donor community. The purpose of the event was to provide a platform for exchange of information on priority activities undertaken by respective national authorities in health and social protection sectors, including the financial gaps that could be addressed by the development partners.

The State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Tatiana Ivanicichina stressed the importance of such meetings to outline the investment gaps and discuss them with potential donors.

Ms. Svetlana Cebotari, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection, presented the "Sectoral Expenditure Strategy in the areas of Health, Labor and Social Protection for the period of 2019-2021", providing an overview of the dynamics of public spending, new priorities and actions proposed in health and social protection sectors. In addition to significant national efforts presented, support from the donor community is expected to facilitate full implementation of the strategy.

The World Health Organization Representative in the Republic of Moldova, Haris Hajrulahovic welcomed open and continuous discussion in this respect as the World Health Organization and other development partners are actively contributing to improvements in health and social protection areas in the Republic of Moldova.

Ms. Caroline Tissot, Country Director, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, noted that health is one of the priorities of the Cooperation Strategy with the Republic of Moldova for the years 2018-2021, an amount of 14 million euros of financial assistance being planned to be directed to this sector. In this context, Mr. Valeriu Sava, National Program Officer in Health, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation presented the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation on the project" Support for the reform of mental health services in the Republic of Moldova ".

The measures undertaken by the Government in combating measles epidemics in the Republic of Moldova were presented by Ms. Aliona Serbulenco, State Secretary for Public Health.

More than 50 representatives of health and social protection stakeholders from the Republic of Moldova participated in the Communication Forum on Health Sector Issues welcoming regular exchange of information and facilitating access to external financial assistance.