”Nicolae Testemitanu” University will participate in the implementation of ”Heart Transplant in the Republic of Moldova” National Program

Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of health care, education and medical sciences with the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. A similar document of cooperation with the institution from the neighboring country was also signed by Timofei Mosneaga Republican Clinical Hospital.

The certification of the agreements took place on November 25, 2025, during the Inauguration Conference of the Heart Transplant in the Republic of Moldova National Program, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova, Timofei Mosneaga Republican Clinical Hospital and the Transplant Agency of the Republic of Moldova.

The event was attended by Health Minister Emil Ceban, who emphasized the importance of collaborating in the field of transplantation with institutions that already have valuable experience in this area. "These memoranda establish firm commitments to strengthen heart transplantation in the Republic of Moldova and connect us to the highest European standards. Currently, there is no heart transplantation activity in the Republic of Moldova. In 2023, only two patients benefited from heart transplantation, but these operations were performed abroad. The assessments included in the National Transplant Program, from 2017 to the present, indicate the need for transplantation for about 20-25 patients. Now, the health system is experiencing difficulties in developing this field. Among the immediate priorities are the development of a National Heart Transplant Program, including clinical protocols, according to European standards; strengthening a specialized cardiac surgery center, with a team capable of providing 3-5 transplants annually; organizing training courses to develop the skills of young specialists in cardiac surgery; expanding international collaboration with centers of excellence in Romania, Ukraine, and European countries," the minister specified.

"It is a great honor for Nicolae Testemitanu University to be part of this historic moment - the launch of the heart transplant program in the Republic of Moldova. It is a significant step for the national health system, but also for university and postgraduate medical education in our country. In this progress equation the University has a strategic, fundamental and irreplaceable role. Heart transplantation does not begin in the operating room. It begins in classrooms, in laboratories, in university simulation centers, where skills are formed, mentalities are shaped and a culture of responsibility for life is developed", declared First Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Management at Nicolae Testemitanu University.

Regarding the national transplant program, Marcel Abras, VIce-Rector for Clinical Activity Management at Nicolae Testemitanu University, Associate Professor at the Cardiology Discipline, Department of Internal Medicine, mentioned that: "We are approaching with maximum attention this imminent problem for the Republic of Moldova, expected by both our patients and specialists in the field who are improving themselves for such interventions and demonstrate a high level of medicine in all countries," the Associate Professor specified.

Borys Todurov, Director of the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, expressed his openness to regional cooperation, at ministerial and university level, exchange of experience and good practices in the field of heart transplantation.

In turn, Andrei Uncuta, Director of Timofei Mosneaga RCH, spoke about investments in the development of the transplantation field, the first achievements, the equipment of operating rooms, the identification of donors, the adaptation of legislative acts according to international directives, the collaboration with the National Transplant Agency, the development of cardiac surgery in accordance with the latest standards. "All these experiences have helped us to strengthen the infrastructure for transplantation. We are going to join our efforts to perform this type of intervention. We thank our colleagues in Ukraine who are open to providing us with logistical support, support in the development of normative acts for the opportunities offered to develop advanced skills of young cardiac surgery specialists", the director stated.

In the opinion of University Professor Grigore Tinica, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, manager at the Prof. Dr. George IM Georgescu Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases: "Today, the Republic of Moldova, along with Romania, has one of the most reliable programs for invasive treatment of acute myocardial infarction. I am firmly convinced that, in a short time, the Republic of Moldova will be placed on the map of heart transplantation, respectively will enter Eurotransplant (an international non-profit organization responsible for the allocation of organs from donors in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia), doctors will perform and carry out such surgical interventions, for the benefit of patients."

The event was attended by cardiac surgeons and experts from Romania, Germany and the Republic of Moldova.

The conference addressed topics related to expanding the transplant program, increasing the number of donors, ensuring logistics, and strengthening multidisciplinary teams of specialist doctors.

By launching the National Program "Heart Transplant in the Republic of Moldova", it is intended to implement a modern, sustainable and autonomous heart transplant service in accordance with international standards.