Over 3 million of chronic patients run the risk of no longer receiving prescription drugs

Lack of funds for medication and the shortage of drugs in drugstores endangers the life of over 3 million chronic patients. The Coalition of the Organizations of Chronic Disease Patients In Romania (COPAC) yesterday staged a protest hoping to raise a warning on the situation of Romanian chronic patients. Right now, distributors no longer supply hospitals with drugs because they haven"t been paid, pharmacies no longer issue drugs for patients with transplants, whereas people that suffer from rare diseases have very few subsidized drugs available.

"We staged this protest because patients can"t hold on much longer without treatment. People are literally dying. Hemophiliacs die due to the absence of coagulating factor drugs. People with transplants are faced with the lack of drugs and the conditions in the hospitals. Diabetics are subjected to experimental treatment schemes. Funds for HIV/AIDS are running out".

"Petitions of hepatitis patients are no longer being approved, and a similar situation remains in the case of cancer patients", COPAC officials said.

"Given the current state of the healthcare system and the overwhelming number of complaints from its members that about the difficulties patients have in accessing healthcare, the coalition decided to protest publicly against the irresponsible attitude of healthcare authorities", they said.

Demands by members of COPAC include immediate and unconditional access to medication for all patients, the allocation of at least 6% of the GDP for healthcare, as well as the implementation of a patient-focused healthcare system. To this end, the Coalition filed a memorandum with the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as the demands are addressed to the Parliament as well as to the deciding factors in the public healthcare system.