Mobile emergency service to be created in Moldova

Prime Minister Vlad Filat on November 5 met the under-secretary of state at the Romanian Health Ministry, Raed Arafat, and the head of the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, Ioan Bas, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.

Attending the meeting was Romanian Ambassador to Moldova Marius Lazurca.

The officials discussed the implementation of the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD) in Moldova.

Filat thanked Arafat for his interest in implementing the SMURD in Moldova,praising the effort taken in order to implement the service in Romania.

Filat reiterated the need to create a single emergency service in Moldova as soon as possible.

«We are conscious of the need to create such a service in Moldova. The employees of the Health Ministry praised the SMURD's experience in the management of emergency situations. Our partnership as regards the implementation of this project will be based on specific actions, not just discussions,» Filat said.

Filat said once the SMURD is created, Moldovan citizens will benefit from qualitative and quick first medical aid services, in case of emergencies.

Also Filat ordered the establishment of a working group responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the SMURD's implementation in Moldova.

For his part, Raed Arafat said Romanian authorities voice interest in granting assistance during the SMURD's establishment in Moldova, whereas pilot projects could be enforced at the initial stage.

«A group of Moldovan doctors could benefit from a training provided by qualified Romanian institutions, in order to familiarise themselves with the way the single emergency service works. Also two or three pilot-teams responsible for granting assistance within the SMURD regime could be created,» Arafat said.

The Romanian under-secretary said a legislative framework is needed in order to create the SMURD in Moldova.

Arafat said Romania is willing to implement the transboundary emergency assistance project. This implies the endowment with all the necessary equipment of the institutions qualified to offer emergency medical assistance as well as the Service of Civil Protection and Emergencies. Romania is also willing to offer a helicopter that would serve both Moldova and Romania's eastern regions.

Adapted from Moldpres