---
title: "Moldova shifts from residential care to digital inclusion"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/85194/moldova-shifts-from-residential-care-to-digital-inclusion
published: 2026-09-16T11:52:00Z
language: en
author: "Gabriela Melnic"
section: "Social"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Moldova shifts from residential care to digital inclusion

> Moldova is overhauling its disability support framework by modernising assessment criteria, digitising public applications, and expanding community-based housing to accelerate deinstitutionalisation between 2026 and 2030, official data show.

![PNUD Moldova](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/cd151b73-8a42-45b3-81b3-f1c3cdd9f672.jpg)

*Sursa: PNUD Moldova*

Moldova is overhauling its disability support framework by modernising assessment criteria, digitising public applications, and expanding community-based housing to accelerate deinstitutionalisation between 2026 and 2030, official data show.

The National Programme for the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities aims to modernise medical and social evaluation criteria to reflect contemporary support services. Currently, approximately 164,000 people live with disabilities in Moldova, including about 13,500 children.

**Digital assessment and automated data exchange**

A major pillar of the reform involves eliminating paper documentation across state agencies. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection plans to integrate medical records into an electronic workflow, allowing citizens to file claims for disability status directly online.

*“We aim to integrate all medical certificates and records into an online system so applicants no longer carry paperwork from office to office,”* said State Secretary Vasile Cușca during an appearance on Moldova 1’s “Bună Dimineața” programme.

The digitisation drive will operate through the Ministry’s e-Social platform. Cușca noted that the system will feature a dedicated module for disability evaluations and will automatically exchange data with other public institutions.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/511ba6f3-16ae-4043-957b-fee0adc61dfc.jpg)

**Deinstitutionalisation and community living**

The government is also restructuring social service delivery, prioritising the prevention of institutionalisation and supporting independent community living. Under the initiative, authorities are expanding sheltered housing and community group homes tailored to individual autonomy levels.

The Ministry has already acquired 31 of 33 planned residential properties, which will accommodate approximately 170 individuals transitioning out of large residential centres. *“We must build community-level services and prevent large residential institutions housing hundreds of people,”* the state secretary said.

Support will also extend to family caregivers through respite care services, which offer up to 30 days of annual relief. Four of six planned respite centres are already operational across the country.

Employment inclusion remains another strategic target. With roughly a quarter of individuals with disabilities currently employed, the government plans to maintain workplace adaptation subsidies, ensuring beneficiaries can achieve genuine social and economic independence.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

Pentru autorități, incluziunea persoanelor cu dizabilități presupune nu doar acordarea prestațiilor sociale, ci și crearea unor condiții care să le permită să fie mai independente și mai active în comunitate, a conchis Vasile Cușca.

[Video: https://trm.blob.core.windows.net/photos/9f1581f3-49d3-49a4-a6eb-dccba91b861d.jpg](https://original.trm.md/video/definst/MP4:2026/9/16/persoanedizabilitati.mp4/playlist.m3u8)

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