The problem of access to medical care of patients with other diseases during the emergency period

The relative of a seriously ill person from Cahul, who was to be operated on March 30 at the Medpark International Hospital, called the Office of the People’s Advocate. The intervention was a last chance to improve the patient’s health. But due to the state of emergency and the restrictions established by the provisions of point 2 of Provision no. 8 of the Commission for Exceptional Situations of 28.03.2020, the surgery procedure was postponed. The patient’s relatives are very concerned about the patient’s health, stating that he is in awful pain, has lost his sleep and may lose his leg due to the lack of timely medical assistance, i.e. the surgery procedure.

The response of the People’s Advocate Office

The People’s Advocate accepted the request for examination, the officials of the institution contacted the patient’s relatives, and the representatives of Medpark International Hospital to clarify the situation. Other circumstances related to this case are still to be determined in order to decide on how to intervene and solve the approached problem. Also, the People’s Advocate will ask the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection to identify a clear mechanism for regulating the problems related to access to medical care and ensuring the right to respect for the patient’s time with other diseases during the emergency period. Because each person has the right to receive the treatment they need within a certain period of time, depending on the degree of urgency of the disease.