Ministry of Health: Subordinate Institutions Must Coordinate Information Published on Facebook and Participation of Their Heads in Broadcast Programs

Stela Grigoras, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection, issued an order on November 20, requiring that institutions subordinated to the ministry coordinate all invitations to and interviews in broadcast programs with the Service of Information and Communication with the Media, according to the website e-sanatate.md, which also published a photo of the order (the document itself was not posted on the ministry’s official website). Media experts, in their turn, point out that although the order does not contain any serious restrictions at first glance, it might be applied with ill will and thus work against journalists.
 
The minister’s order stipulates that all information and press releases that are to be published on the ministry’s website and Facebook page will have to be first sent to the above-mentioned service. Ministry representatives claim that this order is intended to increase the efficiency of the institution’s internal and external communication and to ensure “positive visibility of the ministry and of its subordinate institutions.”
In addition, according to the order, officials responsible for communication or the heads of respective institutions should regularly submit to the above service information about all important events, actions, and meetings that need to be publicized and that involve the participation of the institution’s leadership. Such information will be submitted to the Service of Information and Communication with the Media at the beginning of every month (for the current month), weekly (every Monday for the current week), and daily.
E-sanatate.md also published the list of institutions subject to the minister’s order: National Public Health Center, Municipal Public Health Center, National Health Management Center, National Blood Transfusion Center, Transplantation Agency, Emergency Medicine Institute, Republican Medical Diagnostic Center, Mother and Child Institute, Oncology Institute, National Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Assistance Center, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Medicines Agency, National Employment Agency, Health Directorate of the Chisinau Mayor’s Office, and 34 territorial public health centers.
Crisina Stratulat, responsible for communication at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, confirmed to media-azi.md the authenticity of this order issued by Minister Stela Grigoras. Stratulat noted that this order was aimed at ensuring efficient communication and that “it is not a restriction.”

She also said that this document was issued also in connection with the reform of institutions.
Cristina Stratulat insisted that this order will not affect the communication of subordinate institutions with the media. “You will communicate like before, but the process will be coordinated,” she said.
On the other hand, Viorica Zaharia, chair of the Press Council, asked by media-azi.md to comment on the ministry’s order, said that at first glance there is nothing wrong with the order, but, in her opinion, problems might appear if it is applied without good will, so it might work against journalists.

A similar document, related to coordination with the press service, has recently been issued by Silvia Radu, the interim mayor of Chisinau municipality. Her decree of November 22 obliged the Mayor’s Office employees to communicate with the media only through the Public Relations Department.