”Healthtech Community” Forum brought together health, IT and economy specialists

Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova organized an event dedicated to strengthening the HealthTech community and accelerating innovation in the healthcare field, called the HealthTech Community Forum, on January 22 of this year.

In the opening, First Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Management, emphasized that digitalization was a priority for Nicolae Testemitanu University in the dimensions of medical training, development of professional skills and research: "In recent years, our university has initiated a broad process of medical education modernization, prioritizing the integration of digital technologies in the training process, developing the University Center for Simulation in Medical Training and various research laboratories with the support of the World Bank and digital educational platforms."

According to the first vice-rector, investments have been made in the IT infrastructure, so that students and teachers benefit from an educational environment adapted to the requirements of the 21st century, focused on the formation of digital skills of future doctors. "Contemporary medicine means being a good specialist in clinical medicine, as well as having the ability to work with medical information systems, electronic patient records, telemedicine applications, artificial intelligence algorithms and medical data analysis solutions. In this context, Nicolae Testemitanu University assumes the responsibility of being a center of excellence in digital medical education - a space where innovation is encouraged, tested and transformed into real skills for future health professionals", Professor Olga Cernetchi mentioned.

Michelle Iliev, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, has noted that medicine is currently one of the most competitive fields in the Republic of Moldova with a very good base that includes an academic environment and a vast research capacity, modern equipment and a HealthTech Hub Community. "The Ministry, in collaboration with partners from GIZ Moldova and the regional projects Digital Transformation for SMEs and Moldova Innovation Technology Park, in the coming period, is going to stimulate this community as much as possible both financially and in terms of equipment. The basic objectives include the allocation of innovation funds dedicated to solutions, especially convergence with artificial intelligence, the construction of the High-Tech Park and HealthTech Hub, as well as the launch of the Sandbox Law, which involves some regulatory exemptions and a safe testing space, especially for solutions in the medical field, where there are many conditions and legal rigors," the digitalization expert specified.

According to Corneliu Ciorici, digitalization advisor at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova, digitalization in healthcare implies a more efficient and patient-centered system. "For doctors and pharmacists, digitalization means more efficient time management - less paper, less bureaucracy and more time for self-development. For patients - shorter queues, freer access to personal data and many other services in digital format. The role of academic institutions is essential for digitalization and this fact was also included in the National Program for Digitalization and Innovation in Healthcare for 2025-2030, which also refers to Nicolae Testemitanu University, especially in the segment of developing digital skills, because it is you, students and teachers, who are part of this process and can help change the future in the field of digitalization," the advisor emphasized.

Marina Bzovii, administrator at "Moldova IT Park", noted that "we are proud of the medical industry of the Republic of Moldova, especially of Nicolae Testemitanu University, because thanks to the University we have such a good medical system. It is noteworthy that every year a new health start-up appears, which becomes very popular internationally, and we admire them for their courage to advance because our country does not have enough funds to support them", the expert specified.

The forum was attended by representatives of Nicolae Testemitanu University, academic specialists, healthcare professionals, resident physicians, as well as representatives of the public and private sectors, and experts in the field from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The event provided a framework for dialogue and collaboration on the role of technology and innovation in the modernization of the healthcare system.

The program included a pitching session dedicated to HealthTech start-ups, such as Symptive, Baby Medy, Argus AI, VR Neurolink AI, CBTLAB, Cindi, presentations, networking sessions, during which global and national priorities in digital health, the priority directions of the World Health Organization activity, the agenda of the Republic of Moldova in the field of digitalization in health and collaboration between universities, medical institutions and start-ups for the development and integration of innovative solutions were addressed.

The forum was organized with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation, under the project ”Digital Transformation of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Eastern Partnership Countries (DT4SME)”.