For the first time, a Health Tech Forum was organized as part of “Moldova Business Week”

On September 19, 2025, in Chisinau, the first edition of the Health Tech Forum took place - a major event dedicated to accelerating the digital transformation of the healthcare system in the Republic of Moldova, held as part of "Moldova Business Week".

The forum brought together leaders in the medical and technological fields, government officials and international experts, university professors, students and researchers, who addressed topical issues such as the digitalization of medical services, the benefits of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and treatment, the development of medical tourism and the role of startups in facilitating patients' access to modern, quality services.

At the opening of the event, Natalia Ciobanu, President of the Medical Tourism Association of Moldova, head of the Department of Development and Technological Innovation in Health at Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, mentioned that "we want to develop this platform, where innovation will meet technology, especially in the medical system. The health sector needs strategic investments that can be real when there is a clear development plan. In an era where the digitalization of the health system is a necessity, this event aims to become a catalyst for innovation, strategic investments and technology transfer, so that we can improve the system, educate new generations of doctors, unite the business, associative and academic fields, to bring more value and investment in research."

"The Republic of Moldova has become an attractive destination for medical tourism, in the last 5 years, exports of medical and educational services have doubled. The quality of professionals and competitive prices attract patients from all over the world, and events such as the Health Tech Forum are essential to consolidate this reputation and stimulate investments," specified Natalia Bejan, Director of the Invest Moldova Agency. In particular, the representative of the government agency emphasized the role of Nicolae Testemitanu University in attracting foreign students, thanks to internationally accredited study programs, where over 1,800 young people from 33 countries are currently studying.

According to Diana Lazar, advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, "The Republic of Moldova has demonstrated that it can transform ideas into reality and successful projects, a relevant example in this regard being the recent launch of the Health Tech Hub Innovation and Research Center within Nicolae Testemitanu University. The Ministry supports this project, which is set to play a central role in the ecosystem for the development of medical technologies."

According to Corneliu Ciorici, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, the Government of the Republic of Moldova aims for citizens to have secure access to their electronic health record, through the National Program for Digitalization and Innovation in Health, by 2030. "We have already identified important funding sources to transform this vision into reality, ensuring more efficient and accessible medical services for all," the official said.

The partnership between academia and business was also emphasized in the message of the First Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi, Vice-Rector for Teaching Activity and Academic Management of Nicolae Testemitanu University. "The university has an essential role not only by training future generations of doctors, but also by actively participating in research and innovation. The recent launch of the Health Tech Hub Innovation Center within Nicolae Testemitanu University is a concrete step towards the digitalization and virtualization of the educational process, the widespread implementation of telemedicine and advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, as well as the use of artificial intelligence for the early diagnosis of various diseases," the First Vice-Rector stated.

The forum program included plenary sessions, thematic panels, start-up presentations and networking, with the participation of over 20 national and international speakers.

Health Tech Forum 2025 was organized by the Invest Moldova Agency, the Medical Tourism Association of Moldova, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ 𝐻𝑢𝑏, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ Moldova), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Innovate Moldova and the Embassy of Sweden in Chisinau.