Cancer in conflict: The impact of the war in Ukraine on Moldova

Europe has not experienced a refugee crisis of this magnitude since the Second World War. The Republic of Moldova, a small European nation bordering western Ukraine, has found itself increasingly in the crosshairs of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Moldova is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nor the European Union (EU), but remains an attractive destination for those displaced by the conflict due to its proximity to Ukraine and Russian-speaking communities. Relative to its population, Moldova has the highest number of refugees per capita in Europe (4.2%). This rapid influx of refugees has placed significant pressure on the country’s health systems in all areas of care, including for non-communicable diseases such as cancer. Similar challenges are faced by neighbouring countries, including Poland,where it is estimated that 7827 additional cancer cases will be identified from elderly refugees per year.