On 5 September, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) held a workshop dedicated to Statistical Research on Population Health. The event was organised in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in the Republic of Moldova and aimed to familiarize representatives of public authorities, other institutions and organizations with the upcoming Population Health Survey, planned to be implemented by NBS in the fourth quarter of this year. The survey will be conducted in accordance with the methodology applied at the EU level within the “European Health Interview Survey, wave 4” (EHIS).

The preparation and implementation of national survey in line with the EHIS methodology is stipulated in the 2025 – 2029 National Programme for the Accession of the Republic of Moldova to the EU (NPA) (Chapter 18 ‘Statistics’, Annex B, action 24), approved by Government Decision No 306/2025) as well as in the Statistical Work Programme for 2025, approved by Government Decision No 897/2024 (action 22 in Compartment 1). Thus, the implementation of the survey is expected to further contribute to the alignment of the National Statistical System with the EU statistical acquis.

In his welcome speech, the Director General of the NBS, Mr. Oleg CARA, stated: "Thefield of population health is a key one for our country. Taking into account the European integration aspirations of the Republic of Moldova, we have set ourselves the goal of advancing alignment with EU requirements also in this area, with 2025 being the year when EU Member carry out this survey according to a common methodology and toolkit, which ensures the comparability of results at the European level. The data collected within the survey will be extremely useful for a better understanding of the population’s health status in our country, supporting national health policies and programs, and contributing to raising the standard of living of our citizens to European standards.

Angela PARASCHIV, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, emphasized: “Forthe Ministry of Health, EHIS represents a fundamental tool in the process of developing and strenghtening health programmes. The data collected through this instrument will provide a clearer picture of the population health status, allow the identification of inequalities in access to health services and support the orientation of public policies towards improving the citizens quality of life. At the same time, our active participation in this exercise strengthens the Republic of Moldova’s efforts to align with the acquis in the field of statistics and public health.”

Iuliana GARAM – representative of the WHO Office in the Republic of Moldova, underlined: “Thetopic of the study is of strategic importance in the context of Moldova’s EU accession. The survey carried out by the NBS are more than just figures – they reflect the realities lived by citizens, becoming a true voice of the people. Through these data, authorities can gain a deeper understanding of the community needs and respond with appropriate and effective policies. The World Health Organisation deeply appreciates the close and professional cooperation with the National Bureau of Statistics, which plays a key role in strengthening national capacities for data collection and analysis, and reaffirms its continued support for the Republic of Moldova in the process of harmonization with European standards, while continuing to provide technical expertise and institutional support in promoting population health’.

We mention that the data collection within the survey will be carried out in the fourth quarter of this year. The aim of the survey, besides assessing the health status of the population, is to highlight individual morbidity (chronic diseases), the consumption of medical services (consultations with the family doctor, a specialist doctor or dentist, use of alternative medicine, hospital admission) and the use of medicines. At the same time, the EHIS survey offers the possibility of revealing the link between the health status of the population and certain demo-socio-economic factors (sex, age, marital status, professional status, occupation, etc.) or behavioral factors that have a direct impact on health (dietary habits, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, sports or physical activities). Thus, the study involves the collection of a wide range of information that the currently existing data sources cannot provide, such as, for example, information on the health status of people who do not use medical services, as well as the identification of types of diseases that have not come to the attention of medical services. One of the important issues addressed by the survey is self-assessment of health status and the limitations of daily activities due to health problems, two basic indicators for evaluation and planning in public health.

Representatives of institutions with expertise in promoting population health, preventing risk factors and implementing public health policies participated in the event: The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Agency for Public Health, as well as the State Chancellery, the WHO Office in the Republic of Moldova, UNICEF Moldova, and others. During the practical session of the workshop, the NBS specialists discussed in detail with the representatives of these institutions the proposals for adjusting and supplementing the EHIS survey questionnaires with additional questions that would be relevant at the national level, in order to enhance the availability of statistical data in the country necessary for monitoring existing policies and developing new ones.

The workshop is organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in the Republic of Moldova, with the financial support of the European Union.