Moldova Health Minister in tears over hospital kitchen conditions
Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Moldova's Health Minister Emil Ceban broke down in tears during a visit to Balti Clinical Hospital after witnessing the unsanitary conditions in the food preparation area.
- The minister expressed shame and anger over the unacceptable state of the kitchen, noting that millions of lei had been invested in the hospital without addressing basic hygiene.
- Following the inspection, the interim director of the hospital was dismissed, and the hospital is now seeking a company for modernization while arranging emergency catering services.
Moldova's Health Minister Emil Ceban was overcome with emotion, shedding tears during a visit to the Balti Clinical Hospital. His distress stemmed from the shocking conditions he discovered in the hospital's food preparation area, where meals for patients are made.
Visibly moved, Ceban declared the situation unacceptable and expressed deep shame that such basic issues required his intervention. "I want to tell you that I am ashamed and I have emotions, being an academician, having worked a lifetime, to come and solve your catering problem," he stated during a meeting with hospital staff. He emphasized that hygiene and patient safety are paramount, especially given the millions of lei invested in the institution, yet elementary necessities were being neglected.
The minister's visit followed the circulation of images on social media depicting the dire state of the food processing section. In response to the findings, Ceban ordered the immediate dismissal of the hospital's interim director, Iurie Osoianu. Osoianu will return to his previous role at Fฤleศti District Hospital, with Vladimir Pascaru stepping in as the new interim director.
Pascaru acknowledged the challenges but expressed determination to improve the facility. "I will strive to fulfill my duties, we will strive, the staff is good, very good, it is one of the largest hospitals, so many buildings, there are problems, different periods there were, the funding was different, we will strive to bring the hospital to what it should be," he said. The hospital administration announced plans to hire a company for the modernization project of the food block and will procure emergency catering services in the interim to ensure patients receive adequate meals.
Vreau sฤ vฤ spun cฤ mie mi-i ruศine ศi am emoศii fiind academician, lucrรขnd o viaศฤ, sฤ vin sฤ vฤ rezolv รฎntrebarea de ospฤtฤrie.
Originally published by Adevฤrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.