Moldova implements new digital tools to streamline emergency response
The emergency system in the Republic of Moldova is undergoing a significant modernization with the introduction of several free digital services. These include the eCall system, the MD-Alert platform, and the recently launched 112 mobile application. These innovations will enable quicker location of individuals in distress, automatic transmission of alerts, and timely intervention by rescue teams, even when victims are unable to call for help.
New technologies will help reduce response times and save more lives.
Ambulances, police, firefighters, and rescuers will be able to intervene more quickly, including in cases where victims are unable to call for help, thanks to the eCall system, said Ana Carpovici, the press officer of the National Single Emergency Call Service 112, on the “Public Space” show on Radio Moldova.
According to her, the system can be installed on board vehicles and will operate in all member states of the European Union. In the event of a serious road accident, it will automatically and free of charge call the single number 112 or it can be activated manually by pressing a button, Ana Carpovici said.
"When a road accident occurs, the car's sensors will transmit to the emergency call center information about the geographical location of the vehicle, its type, the type of fuel, whether the vehicle is overturned, the estimated number of occupants and whether the call was initiated automatically or manually", explained the representative of the 112 Service.
Also this year, the 112 mobile application was launched, which allows the automatic transmission of GPS coordinates and the user's medical profile.
The application also offers the possibility of communicating via text, photo or video with emergency service operators, facilitating the assessment of the situation and the intervention of specialized teams, Ana Carpovici added.
"The exact location and the possibility of communicating via text, image or video with the caller give the operator a much clearer picture of the situation at the scene of the emergency. Thus, information is transmitted more efficiently to the dispatch centers, and the intervention teams can act faster and better prepared", the same source informed.
Another project under development is the MD-Alert system, similar to the RO-Alert platform in Romania and developed in accordance with European standards.
This will allow warning messages to be transmitted directly to the mobile phones of people in risk areas, said the head of the General Directorate for Prevention at the General Inspectorate for Emergencies, Dumitru Vieru.
“The phone will automatically receive these messages, and people in the targeted area will be immediately informed about the danger and the measures they must take, including evacuation from the risk area. MD-Alert will be used to transmit critical messages in emergencies”, said the IGSU representative.
According to Dumitru Vieru, the authorities will conduct a large-scale information and training campaign for the public before the system launches. This will also include national tests so that citizens understand how the alerts work and react appropriately in real dangerous situations.
"A broad campaign will be carried out throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova. After the information stage, test messages will be sent, and subsequently the degree of understanding and awareness of these alerts by the population will be assessed", announced Dumitru Vieru.
Since 2018, the European Union requires all new vehicles to be equipped with the eCall system. In the Republic of Moldova, the provisions regarding its operation will enter into force on May 13, 2027. The obligation of manufacturers and importers to inform consumers about the system's operation will take effect in 2030.
The 112 mobile application, launched in March of this year, can be downloaded for free from application stores and works both in the territory of the Republic of Moldova and in six other European countries: the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland and Germany.
Also, the MD-Alert system is set to become operational by the end of 2027. It will be developed by the General Inspectorate for Emergencies, and after commissioning it will be managed by the National Crisis Management Center.
