According to data from the international research platform Numbeo, published in May 2026, Moldova’s healthcare system has been ranked among the worst in the world. The country placed 295th out of 321 positions.
Numbeo’s 2026 Healthcare Index is based on indicators such as the qualifications and competence of medical staff, speed of examinations and report processing, availability and quality of equipment for modern diagnostics and treatment, accuracy and completeness of documentation, friendliness and courtesy of personnel, waiting times, and the responsiveness of healthcare institutions.
The authors of the study note that these indicators are intended to reflect real patient experiences rather than simply healthcare spending statistics.
“The results highlight a broader global trend: some of the world’s most effective healthcare systems achieve excellent patient outcomes without having the highest healthcare expenditures,” the report states.
Ranking figures: where Moldova stands and who is nearby
According to the published data, Moldova’s healthcare index (Chișinău) stands at 51.8 points.
For comparison, Taiwan, the leader of the ranking, scored 89.5 points while spending around $2,400 per person annually. Meanwhile, Washington ranked only 100th despite the United States spending a record $13,500 per capita.
Among Moldova’s closest neighbors in the lower end of the ranking are:
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia (294th place) — 52.0 points
• Kingston, Jamaica (296th place) — 51.4 points
• Dublin, Ireland (297th place) — 51.3 points
Romania, Serbia, and Hungary ranked slightly better in healthcare quality, holding 282nd, 289th, and 293rd places respectively. Tehran ranked 288th, meaning even Iran scored higher than Moldova in this index.
The top five positions were largely dominated by Taiwan (1st, 2nd, and 4th places). Utrecht in the Netherlands ranked 3rd, while Makati in the Philippines came 5th.
Countries ranking below Moldova included Minsk, Belarus (303rd), Baku, Azerbaijan (307th), and Tirana, Albania (310th). The list was closed by Iran and Syria at 320th and 321st places respectively.
Why is Moldova ranked so low if authorities report progress?
“The clinic has turned into circles of hell.”
Patients surveyed during the preparation of the index, along with local experts, highlighted several major issues.
Most respondents pointed to long waiting times and bureaucracy, shortages of modern medicines and outdated equipment, as well as the human factor.
Patients frequently complained about queues and excessive paperwork, including additional documents that are difficult to obtain quickly. They also noted ongoing shortages of medicines and medical supplies, particularly in district hospitals.
Complaints about staff rudeness, doctor fatigue, and nurse burnout were also common, with respondents saying these factors directly affect the quality of care.
The ranking results suggest that even without massive healthcare spending, countries can still deliver strong service quality — as demonstrated by places like the Philippines and Taiwan.
As a result, using a lack of funding to justify staff behavior or bureaucratic barriers to basic procedures, such as medical examinations, appears unconvincing to critics.
A ranking of 295th reflects not only financial resources but the overall quality of healthcare as experienced by ordinary people. And according to this assessment, many feel that healthcare in Moldova remains deeply unsatisfactory.
