August 3, 2023
News
In a digital world, telemedicine represents a promising innovation in providing medical and social care services to elderly individuals, those with reduced mobility, or those living in isolated areas. Caritas Czech Republic supports the development of a medical and social care system in Moldova and, in partnership with the Homecare Association, offers telemedicine consultations within 8 medical and social centres across the country.
Telemedicine - a solution for vulnerable people in Moldova
Moldova faces major challenges in providing medical and social care services. Villages are full with elderly people as the younger generation has migrated abroad for work. Due to long distances or the costs involved in traveling to a medical centre in the region, the elderly, people with disabilities, or those with limited mobility often struggle to access timely medical consultations.
Telemedicine comes to the aid of these vulnerable groups, offering them the possibility of receiving medical and social care remotely. Telemedicine allows access to quality medical services even in isolated rural communities or areas far from a medical point, thus contributing to the improvement of health and quality of life for these people.
Telemedicine bridges the gap between doctors and patients
One of the main advantages of telemedicine is that it reduces geographic and economic barriers for citizens. Thanks to telemedicine, people in need of medical and social care can communicate in real-time with specialised doctors from cities or large medical centres, eliminating the need for costly and tiring travel. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with limited mobility or difficulties in getting around.
74-year-old Eugenia Mîndrescu lives in a small town of Rezina, Moldova. Due to arthritis, Eugenia finds it very difficult to move, even within her own garden. The nearest medical center is about 40 km away from her home, and she would need a special vehicle or an escort to get there, as she cannot manage it on her own.
"I am alone. My husband passed away 19 years ago. I worked in the state farm in my youth, in the cold, in the rain. There was no protective equipment. Winters were harsh. That's how I developed arthritis. And now, because of it, I move very slowly," shared Eugenia.
Eugenia feels blessed to benefit from telemedicine. Thanks to telemedicine, she receives quality and timely consultations. Recently, Eugenia had an endocrinologist consultation, all from the comfort of her own home.
Thanks to telemedicine, Eugenia also had several therapy sessions and was surprised by how calm she feels after the discussions with the psychologist.
“I'm very thankful to Caritas Czech Republic and Homecare Association for these telemedicine services. I want everyone to stay healthy because health is the most important thing in the world. I believe in God and I am grateful for this kind of help," expressed Eugenia with gratitude.
Caritas Czech Republic - Promoter of innovation in social care
In 2021, Caritas Czech Republic, in partnership with the Homecare Association, launched a pilot project to implement telemedicine (teleconsultation and telemonitoring) in 8 medical and social centres in Moldova. Twenty-four medical and social workers provide remote care services to Moldovan citizens based on consultations with specialised doctors. The pilot project aims to bring care services to Moldovan citizens, regardless of the geographic distance between them and medical centres.
Moreover, with the support of key authorities, Caritas Czech Republic and Homecare Association aim to create an advisory committee that will define the concept of telemedicine services in homecare and establish a set of quality standards in this direction, thus laying the groundwork for the creation of a unified and well-defined regulatory framework.
Through this innovative project, Caritas Czech Republic and Homecare Association demonstrate their commitment to bringing advanced and high-quality solutions to improve the medical and social care system in the Republic of Moldova.
