Hospital was returned to the District's Council of Hancesti

(Reported by Natalia Hadârcă, TIMPUL NEWSPAPER on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.)

After more than a year, during which there were more hearings in the Court of Appeal, district council received back the assets that had been deprived by the Ministry of Health, two years ago, according with the order of January 9, 2008 on the regard of establishment of a health institution in the district of Hincesti. The court declared illegal the order of May 6, 2008 on the appointment of Alexei Zlatovcen to become the medical officer. The Court of Appeal's decision has the right of appeal in the superior court hierarchy.

The problems in Hancesti District Hospital began in December 2007. At that time, following a check on economic and financial activities conducted by the district's executives (founder of the institution), the chief doctor Valeriu Golovatâi was dismissed by. The president of the district, Anatol Chetraru, temporarily appointed to the post of Doctor Petru Ciubotaru, Open World Alumna 2008. Ministry of Health did not accept the change that was made and on January 9, 2008, and issued an order reorganizing the institution, thus founding the Hincesti hospital, despite the fact that the  district council did not give this institution the ministry.

After that, the ministry organized a competition for staff and appointed Zlatovcen Alexei as chief physician of the hospital, who was also physician in chief of the maternity N 2 in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. The situation becomes extraordinary one - the institution having two Chiefs: The district council and the Ministry of Health. Each of them called one medical officer of their own. In the mornings, both leaders attended their office and gave instructions.

Hospital staff, disagreeing with the decision of the ministry, for several months, gathered to protest actions in the morning, asking Zlatovcen to leave his post. To mitigate the spirits, the former Minister of Health Larisa Catrinici, visited the hospital in Hincesti, with a lot of policemen. Taking her example, the new medical officer came to work together with police and security. The health workers and patients attended a sad theater of the absurd.

On friday, Petru Ciubotaru, (OW, 2008) the only physician in chief of the institution this time resumed to work, having all the right documents. He said he has corrected many errors of Zlatovcen. "I don't know the reason the Cardiology Department was liquidated, although the mortality due to cardiovascular disease is the first place. Works without financial coverage were also carried out, and now we have to resolve these issues, "said Peter Ciubotaru.

This is an interview taken by Natalia Ursu from Ms Badan, 2009 OW Alumna that retells her success story.
1. Ms. Badan, could you please tell us some words about you and your activities?

My name is Tatiana Badan and I am the mayor of Selemet village, Cimislia district. I hold this position since 2003 and this is my second mandate.

2. When and why did you become a mayor?
I was working within the local public administration of the Selemet village beginning with the '90 as the chief accountant in the mayor hall. Since that period, a strong desire to change things into better arose in me. I wanted to improve the situation of my local community, as I understood that even with limited resources, the village can be developed. This was my motivation to candidate for the mayor's position in the elections of 1999. Only 2 votes weren't enough for me to win the elections. However, in 2003, with 75% of the votes I became the mayor. The next stage was the elections of 2007. This time I even didn't have competitors; a situation which was rather strange for me, if taking into account that by that time our country was passing through democratic changes. I am very grateful to the people living in Selemet for their trust and support.

3. Your are a 2009 OW Alumna. Could you please tell us about this experience?

In 2009 I, indeed, had the opportunity to participate in the OW program. When I got to know that I was selected for the program, I was very happy, because visiting USA was one of my dreams. I was interested in finding out the way of functioning of the US Local Public Administrations. It was an amazing exchange of experience and I can definitely state that OW is a very well prepared and qualified program. I consider that American Councils is doing its job in a very transparent and objective manner, as the process of selection of the participants was a fair one. During our visit in USA we had a full agenda and we interacted with a very well prepared group which has proved our expectations. A lot of meetings with the local authorities were organized. At the Library of Congress we held a meeting with the officials coming from US Ministries, during which the Ministry of Finance provided us with information related to the successful local budget management. Besides this, we met the Former Ambassador of USA in Moldova, visited Washington DC and after that the city of Columbus in Ohio.

4. How do you consider, does OW have an impact in the society?
I believe that forming a bigger Local Governance Group is going to bring a major contribution to the management quality of the Local Public Administrations in Moldova. My statement is based on the fact that in US we have seen management models that are helping us very much in our present activity in Moldova. One of the best ideas that I liked while visiting the US municipalities was the community police, which I am willing to implement in Moldova.
One of the outcomes of the OW project is the establishment of the CALM association by the 2009 Alumnae. It is bringing together mayors from the country's Local Authorities, which are aiming at protecting their communities' interests.

5. Tell us please about CALM, why did you consider it necessary to be set up?

It is well known that various mayors' associations are functioning in our republic. Unfortunately, the major parts are not functional, and are not representing the interests of the local authorities. That is why we decided to form an association at a national level, which would unite the Local Authorities of the I and II level. On the 21st of March, 2010, the general assembly of the association took place. The Association involves 300 localities, including the Association of the Women Mayors, Association of the District Presidents and the National League of the Mayors of Moldova. Our most important aim is to establish a productive dialogue with the Central Authorities.

6. How can the society contribute to the achievement of the CALM's goals?

The civil society could offer its support as the Moldovan Legislation is confusing sometimes; lots of official acts are contradicting one another and don't have a clear mechanism of implementation. We consider that together with the civil society and the NGO's we could propose to the Government and the Parliament the modification of some articles and acts that don't work or have to be improved. Only being united we can obtain tangible results and a functional law.

7. How do you combine family with your mayor position, and with the recent position of the CALM President?

My job position and my activity in CALM require a lot of time and commitment. But I am lucky to have a family that offers me a lot of support and understands that this is my vocation. My free time is totally dedicated to my family and I try to give them my entire love and attention.

8. What would be your message to the future OW participants?

First of all I would like to congratulate those who will be nominated and will participate in this project. It is a unique opportunity and I suggest them after returning home to be as active as possible in their work, in order to promote and implement the experience gathered in US. Our target is to encourage the democratic changes in Moldova through using in practice the knowledge gained in USA.

Another message that I have is for the American Councils team. I want to congratulate you for your daily hard work invested in the project. You are real professionals and your desire for a continuous improvement and maintaining of the relationship with the Alumnae is admirable. We have a strong collaboration with the American Councils that offers useful information about different projects and trainings, in this way maintaining the sustainability of our US experience. I wish you good luck in all your activities.