Minister of Health and students of ”Nicolae Testemitanu” University - at the International AI & Big Data Conference: new opportunities for acceleration of digital solutions in health

The Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova, Emil Ceban, together with a group of students from Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy and representatives of UNFPA in the Republic of Moldova, participated in the International Conference AI & Big Data: Regional AI Valley, held on March 6-7, 2026 in Bucharest, Romania. The event was dedicated to digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence in strategic areas, including the health sector.

Organized for the third consecutive year, the conference brought together leaders from the public, private and academic sectors to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on economic and social development. UNFPA, one of the event partners, supported the participation of the Moldovan delegation in the health field, including students of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, to facilitate the exchange of experience and promote digital solutions in health, including in the field of reproductive health, with a focus on cervical screening.

Minister of Health Emil Ceban emphasized the importance of digitizing the healthcare system in the context of the implementation of the National Program for Digitalization and Innovation in Health 2025-2030.

"The transformation of the healthcare system cannot be separated from the digitalization process. The development of digital infrastructure, the use of data for better-founded decisions and the integration of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, are strategic directions for more efficient and accessible medical services for citizens," Minister Emil Ceban specified.

UNFPA Representative in the Republic of Moldova, Dr. Karina Nersesyan, emphasized the importance of investing in youth and in developing human capital for innovation.

"Student involvement in such events is a direct investment in future specialists who will contribute to the development of digital solutions for the healthcare system. For example, cervical cancer is a preventable disease in the 21st century, yet in the Republic of Moldova it takes away a woman’s life every three days. Exploring new technologies and artificial intelligence to solve this problem represents a real opportunity," Dr. Karina Nersesyan stated.

She also emphasized the importance of the ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies in order to protect human rights.

"Today's students of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy are the specialists of tomorrow's national health system, those who will apply and capitalize on new technologies in medical practice, contributing to the continuous development of medicine and the improvement of reproductive health. We highly appreciate the support of UNFPA in the Republic of Moldova in the training and continuing education of health professionals," First Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Management, mentioned.

"Participating in the conference dedicated to artificial intelligence was an extremely valuable experience for us, medical students. We had the opportunity to discover new perspectives on how AI is transforming different fields, including education and medicine. Discussions with experts and participants from various countries provided us with practical ideas and motivation to integrate these technologies into our activities," said Pavel Chisaru, a 6th-year student at Nicolae Testemitanu University, Medicine program, president of the Association of Medical Students and Residents of Moldova.

Nicolae Testemitanu University is part of the Moldova AI Hub consortium - a national initiative that brings together public and private institutions for the development of the artificial intelligence ecosystem in the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, the Health Tech Hub within the University reflects the commitment to capitalizing on innovation and digital technologies in the healthcare system.

The participation of the Republic of Moldova delegation at the International AI & Big Data Conference: Regional AI Valley marks the continuation of efforts to make the most of opportunities offered by artificial intelligence for the modernization of public services and the development of a more digital, innovative and citizen-oriented health system.