Research and innovation – fundamental components in the development of the National Agency for Public Health

Abstract

The research sector became a component part of the institution on July 28, 1995, when the Government of the Republic of Moldova, through Government Decision no. 529, established the National Scientific and Practical Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology (currently the National Agency for Public Health). This measure aimed to optimize the structure and increase the efficiency of the State Sanitary-Epidemiological Service, with a research and support staff capacity of 135.5 positions. Over the past 30 years, the results of the work carried out by researchers and scholars within the National Agency for Public Health have been reflected in the daily activities of various enterprises and institutions, regardless of their organizational and legal form. Nevertheless, it is often overlooked that the reduction of risk factors in occupational, educational, and hospital environments, as well as the ergonomic organization of educational spaces, is largely attributable to the research projects implemented during this period. At present, scientific researchers successfully combine the experience and knowledge of their predecessors – who established a strong scientific foundation since the creation of the Science Directorate – with the recruitment and training of a new generation of researchers dedicated to addressing pressing public health challenges. During these 30 years, scientific researchers have studied a wide range of phenomena through various bilateral projects and state-funded programs, generating findings with wide-ranging applications in the aforementioned fields.