The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that it has sent an appeal to the 5+2 participants regarding the alarming state of the import of medicines to the PMR and the refusal by the Moldovan side to implement compromise solutions in this area.
It is important to note that throughout 2022, the Pridnestrovian side has repeatedly raised the issue of the need to ensure an uninterrupted supply of pharmaceutical products to the PMR for the population and medical institutions of the republic in the framework of international dialogue.
Last May, experts of the sides jointly worked out a mechanism that would allow the import of medicines into Pridnestrovie, taking into account the list of vital medicines used in the PMR, which would make it possible to partially overcome the subjective restrictions imposed on Pridnestrovian importers by the Moldovan specialized agency. However, later on, the office of the representative for political affairs of the Republic of Moldova refused to implement in practice the solution agreed upon by the experts, without providing reasoned explanations.
Due to worsening epidemiological situation in the PMR, on January 11 of this year a letter was sent to the Moldovan side with a proposal to accelerate and simplify for the seasonal period the procedure of importing medicines to Pridnestrovie, including those not registered in Moldova. Yet, so far the Pridnestrovian side has not received any response from the Republic of Moldova.
Notably, Moldova also faces unfavorable situation in medical imports. In particular, Tiraspol drew attention to the statements by the prime minister and heads of relevant departments of the neighboring state about the shortage of medicines. Among the reasons for that is imperfect current legislation of the Republic of Moldova and disrupted supplies from Russia and Ukraine.
The ongoing crisis proves well that the warnings of the Pridnestrovian side about Moldova’s irresponsible approaches in administering the pharmaceutical industry are justified. As we can see, destructive actions by the Republic of Moldova create difficulties with medical supplies both in Pridnestrovie and Moldova itself, and lead to the shortage and increased cost of medicines. As a result, people’s health and well-being are impaired.
The Foreign Ministry considers unacceptable the situation in which the inertial approach of the Moldovan chief negotiator has made the Pridnestrovian health care system and population hostage to the inadequate and commercially driven pharmaceutical policy pursued by the Moldovan authorities.
The next meeting of expert (working) groups on health issues is scheduled for February 7 of this year. The Pridnestrovian side counts on the assistance of international participants in the negotiation process in reaching a compromise solution to unblock the import of vital and socially important categories of medicines to Pridnestrovie.
