Technical discussion on the WHO Code implementation in the Republic of Moldova

by Ms Rodica Munteanu, WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova

A technical discussion with national stakeholders on the implementation of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel was held in the Republic of Moldova on the 17th of June 2013. The event was organized by the Ministry of Health with the support of the WHO CO and WHO Regional Office for Europe, and brought together over 80 stakeholders involved, including representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Bureau for Diaspora Relations, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and representatives of international organisations. The technical discussion aims to promote debate on effective policy options to strengthen the national health workforce and health systems and to foster commitment of all national stakeholders to implement the Code in the country.

A representative from the WHO Regional Office for Europe discussed the WHO commitments and the past developments in Code reporting and monitoring. The project director from the Norwegian Directorate for Health concentrated on the policies and mechanisms a receiving country has adopted in order to manage migration and the HRH challenges it faces. A health advocate from the Dutch WEMOS Foundation gave an overview of the Code Implementation in EU countries, focusing on the good practices and stakeholders’ collaboration before an advocacy coordinator from an EU-Funded project described the Italian case study of Code implementation and the role of civil society organizations in enforcing the Code.

The conclusions of the technical discussion centered on the importance of accurate and actual data, the necessity for a more intensive collaboration between various national and international stakeholders, as well as promoting the Code through the distribution of such materials as were translated and given to the participants at the technical discussion as the Code and the User’s Guide of the Code. Event participants agreed that continuous capacity building for the Ministry of Health and medical institutions is needed for a better management of human resources for health. Finally, it was agreed that active steps need to be taken by Moldovan authorities, in collaboration with other interested stakeholders, in starting negotiations for bilateral agreements to be signed by Moldova with countries of destination on a variety of health-related issues, such as recognition of qualifications, technical assistance, circular migration, etc.

The activity is part of the biennial collaborative agreement (BCA) 2012–2013 between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova and WHO/Europe. The technical discussion and the ongoing process of strengthening the capacity of the Republic of Moldova to manage the migration of Moldovan health professionals are related to the EU-funded project “Better Managing the Mobility of Health Professionals in the Republic of Moldova”.

You can read or download the presentations by using the links below:

WHO Commitments: Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of
Health Personnel

Norway’s policies and leadership before and after Code Implementation
Otto Christian Rø, Project Director, Norwegian Directorate of Health

An overview of Code Implementation in EU countries: good practices and
stakeholders collaboration
Ms Linda Mans, Health Advocate, HRH Programme, WEMOS Foundation

Implementing the Code in the Republic of Moldova: experience, barriers and steps to
be taken
Mr Nicolae Jelamschi, Director of Regional Observatory on HRH of SEEHN

Code Implementation: lessons learned from the Italian case and role of civil society
organizations
Ms Giulia De Ponte, Project “Health workers for All and All for Health Workers”

The Code and the call for bilateral agreements: past experiences and future prospects
Mr Arcadie Cotruta, Legal Project Officer, WHO Moldova Country Office

The importance of accurate data concerning the mobility of health professionals in the
process of policy formation and retention of health workers
Mr Nicolae Jelamschi, Director of Regional Observatory on HRH of SEEHN

Presentation of the Study results “Intention to leave the destination country and
priority migration directions of health workers in the years 2007-2012”
Dr Svetlana Nichita, Head of National Observatory on HRH


Note: Text and photos courtesy of WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova