Cancer Patients in Romania Face Rationed Treatment Amidst Critical Drug Shortages

Patients battling cancer in Romania are facing a dire situation, with critical shortages of innovative medications disrupting their treatment regimens. Cezar Irimia, president of the Federation of Associations of Cancer Patients (FABC), highlights that essential innovative drugs, typically financed through cost-volume agreements, are currently unavailable. This is not a new problem, he warns, but one that has jeopardized patients' lives for years, painting a grim picture of the state of oncology care in the country.

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Think about it, for a week we haven't had medications. Think about it, the representatives of the House promised to bring a supplement next week. Think about it, organizing tenders takes another two weeks, because it needs to be established who brings the medicines, everyone chooses their distributors, and there can also be appeals to the tenders. What happens to the patients in the meantime?

The core of the problem lies in the stalled funding and contract negotiations between the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) and drug manufacturers. These cost-volume agreements, designed to manage the financial risks of expensive, innovative treatments, are failing to be updated or finalized in a timely manner. Irimia expresses frustration over the prolonged delays, questioning the fate of patients during the weeks or months it takes for new funding to be secured or for tender processes to conclude. The lack of these vital medications is felt acutely in both public and private hospitals, with some private facilities taking on significant financial risks by purchasing drugs themselves, uncertain of reimbursement.

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In private, some hospitals have assumed the purchase of these medicines and they will see when they will be reimbursed for the medicines they have consumed with their patients, but it is a major risk. The House may justify that it does not pay because the cost-volume contracts were not concluded.

Irimia emphasizes that this is a recurring, structural issue within Romania's healthcare system, not an isolated incident. Year after year, patients are caught in the crossfire of administrative delays and funding gaps. He points to a staggering statistic: over 20,000 preventable deaths in oncology annually, a rate 48% higher than the European average. The primary culprit, according to Irimia, is the chronic underfunding of the healthcare system, particularly the oncology program. Romania consistently ranks last in Europe for healthcare funding, a reality that directly translates into inadequate patient care and outcomes across various chronic conditions, not just cancer.

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Every year the same thing happens. For years, we have pointed this out and I see that these problems that cause victims have not yet been resolved.

This systemic failure forces some patients to resort to legal action, suing the state to obtain the life-saving treatments they are entitled to. The situation underscores a profound disconnect between the needs of vulnerable patients and the healthcare system's capacity to deliver, raising serious questions about the government's priorities and its commitment to public health. The ongoing struggle for access to essential medicines highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reform and increased investment in Romania's healthcare infrastructure.

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There are over 20,000 preventable deaths in oncology every year. 48% higher than the European average.