New HIV Services Standard Adopted in Moldova with Special Attention Given to MSM

On December 23, 2015 the standard of quality of HIV prevention services among key populations, including MSM, was adopted by order of the Ministry of Health of Moldova. An annex outlining a package of services for MSM was also included in the document. We spoke with the co-author of the standard, ECOM member Veaceslav Mulear.

These standards ensure the implementation of existing regulations on HIV and are based on recommendations developed by WHO, UNAIDS and other international organizations.

Veaceslav Mulear. Credit: ECOM

From now on, the public funding of services for HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support among key populations will be based on these standards for the quality of service provision. In the future, services will be introduced on the basis of these standards (especially when funding from the state budget is possible).

The standards are already being implemented, as they are mentioned in the National Programme for HIV. However, there was formerly no legal basis for these standards and, at the moment, they are being financed by international sources. This amendment will provide greater stability for the package of services.

At the moment, the most problematic issue is the political instability in the country, as there is currently no government. The political instability in the country can change the overall direction of the country, which could adversely affect the LGBT community.