On 22nd May 2026, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova approved a new standardized Clinical Protocol on Safe Abortion Care, reintroducing telemedicine medical abortion into national clinical guidance. While this marks an important policy development, the reinstatement remains limited, and significant work is still required to ensure equitable access for women and others across the country.
Telemedicine services had proven popular and effective in Moldova.
SAAF grantee partner Reproductive Health Training Center (RHTC) worked hard to introduce telemedicine abortion to the country (and to neighbouring Transnistria) following the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020.
Their successful pilot study led to the government approving the provision of remote medical abortion care. Those who were able to access abortion medication in this way reported that they appreciated the absence of complicated logistics that come with needing to make multiple visits to a clinic. They praised the affordability, speed, and ease of the telemedicine service.
So why was such a successful innovation removed?
In 2024, a petition was submitted to the Ministry of Health calling for the prohibition of telemedicine abortion.
A small group of anti-abortion actors brought the challenge, which contradicted the global evidence-base on telemedical abortion which shows that it is safe, effective and acceptable to patients.
Dr. Rodica Comendant, Director of RHTC, points out that the petition served as an early warning that access to telemedicine abortion was under threat:
“When the petition was submitted, it became clear that access to telemedicine medical abortion could no longer be taken for granted. We understood that decisions affecting women’s health needed to remain grounded in scientific evidence, public health principles, and the realities faced by women seeking care.”
In January 2025, the Ministry of Health suspended the provision of telemedicine abortion.
The decision to remove the right to access telemedicine abortion in Moldova represented a significant setback for those who face barriers to accessing in-person care, including people living in rural communities.
In response, RHTC intensified its advocacy efforts. Together with healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, national experts, and international partners, they provided evidence on the safety and effectiveness of telemedicine, and highlighted the impact that the suspension would have on access to reproductive healthcare.
“We continuously provided scientific evidence, and reminded colleagues about Moldova’s own experience with telemedicine abortion, as well as the experience accumulated across the region. We reviewed multiple drafts, exchanged numerous comments, participated in meetings, and worked consistently to build consensus around the inclusion of telemedicine in the protocol.”
Telemedicine abortion has been reinstated, but only in ‘crisis and exceptional situations.’
Telemedicine medical abortion is once again recognised within Moldova’s national clinical guidance and aligned with current World Health Organisation recommendations. But routine access remains restricted, and the protocol does not clearly define what constitutes a “crisis” or an “exceptional situation.”
“This decision represents progress, but it is not full reinstatement. Many women who could benefit from telemedicine services still do not have guaranteed routine access to them. Access to healthcare should not depend on whether a situation is formally recognized as a crisis. Women encounter geographic, social, economic, and personal barriers every day that can make accessing in-person services difficult or impossible.”
For RHTC, the adoption of the protocol marks the end of one phase of advocacy and the beginning of another.
The next challenge will be the development of the Standard Operating Procedure for telemedicine medical abortion and continued efforts to ensure that telemedicine becomes available whenever it represents the safest and most appropriate option for the person seeking care.
“Telemedicine medical abortion is back in Moldova’s national protocol, but the work is far from finished. Our goal remains ensuring that all women who need this service can access it safely, equitably, and without unnecessary barriers.”
Reproductive Health Training Center is a SAAF grantee partner based in Moldova.