OBJECTIVES: Moldova is a country where expenditure on pharmaceuticals is already very high and exceeds several times the prices in the region. Drugs expenditure represents 70% of direct health expenditure of a household and is the main factor that reduces the financial protection of healthcare services. The objective of the study was to assess affordability of reimbursement medicines and to evaluate the National Health Insurance Company (NHIC) impact on ensuring economic accessibility.  METHODS: To determine the affordability of medicines was used the methodology recommended by the World Health Organization. Have been analyzed data concerning price of drugs, the amounts paid by patients and the amounts paid by the NHIC for partially reimbursed drugs for 5 years (2008-2012). Was calculated: the median price for each drug international common name dependent's on strength; duration of treatment and number of units needed for treatment (for chronic disease); number of working days required for a treatment cure depending on minimum wage and average wage in economy.  Available treatment is considered, the cost of which is 1 or less than the cost of one working day. Based on these results has been also determined the impact of the NHIC. RESULTS: Number of economically accessible reimbursed drugs depending on minimum wage was: 2008-24 (42%), 2009-34 (60%), 2010-43 (53%), 2011-48 (58%), and 2012-71 (86%); depending on average wage in economy: 2008-50 (87%), 2009-50 (87%), 2010-66 (81%), 2011-73 (88%), and 2012-77(94%). The average number of working days compensated by NHIC based on the minimum wage: 2008-6.23, 2009-3.5, 2010-3.7, 2011-2.92, and 2012-1.03; based on average wage in economy: 2008-0.98, 2009-0.76, 2010-0.75, 2011-0.55, and 2012-0.38.  CONCLUSIONS: Compensation of drugs by NHIC, doesn’t significantly affect the affordability of reimbursement medicines. Patients feels no real benefit from NHIC, drugs expenditure within the households practically remain unchanged even if it get reimbursed medicines.