Moldova's 2024 budget focuses on education and healthcare despite economic challenges
The Moldovan government's 2024 budget prioritises investments in education and healthcare while acknowledging the current economic climate.
Finance Minister Petru Rotaru emphasised this dual focus in a recent interview with Radio Moldova.
"While the budget operates within an austere framework," Rotaru stated, "we are committed to investing in the future of our nation by supporting young people and their access to quality education and healthcare."
Key budget measures aimed at achieving this objective include:
- A 15% increase in teacher salaries: This marks a significant investment in attracting and retaining talented educators within the Moldovan education system.
- Doubling of scholarships for students pursuing pedagogical studies: This initiative aims to incentivize more students to choose careers in education, addressing potential staffing shortages in the future.
- Expanded access to medical services, including at birth: This measure expands healthcare coverage for newborns and their mothers, improving access to crucial healthcare services.
Marin Gospodarenco, a public finance expert from the WatchDog community, recognized the positive steps taken in the budget but also highlighted the need for continued economic prudence. "The budget acknowledges the challenging economic circumstances we face, including the recent recession and ongoing geopolitical and energy crises," Gospodarenco noted.
With projected revenues exceeding 66 billion lei and expenditures estimated at 82 billion lei, the budget prioritises responsible fiscal management while ensuring essential investments in the nation's human capital. The draft budget was recently approved in first reading by Parliament and is expected to undergo further discussions before finalisation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
