THE NEW PACKAGE OF NORMS IN THE HEALTH SECTOR: The list of compensated and free of charge drugs, updated after 6 years

The procedures related to update with new molecules of the list of compensated and free of charge drugs are in course of implementation and a part of the health system problems will be solved, according to the statements made by the Ministry of Health, Nicolae Bănicioiu.

"After six years and a half, 17 new molecules have been released, eight or nine are for oncology. Since there are still patients who need special therapy, for example brain tumor, it has been stipulated that the hospitals be able to use the criteria of special needs in order to be able to use the medication. An assessment will be made, and I hope to have the list completed before November", stated the official, who participated in a conference on the topic of Reform in the Health Sector.

Bănicioiu stated that the issue of the patients who are waiting in queues in the medical establishments or the problem of the lack of drugs in the hospitals will be solved, saying that this change starts at the same time with the application of the new regulations.

"I guarantee the patients that, starting from today, these things will change. Not in a day, not overnight. But starting from today things will change for the better. Yes, important steps are being taken for the things to be natural in the Romanian hospitals", stated the minister Nicolae Bănicioiu.

Asked why waiting lists have been introduced in polyclinics and hospitals, the minister stated that he was not the one who introduced them and that they had already been introduced, unofficially.

The Minister of Health talked about the application norms of the medical services packages that enter into force, saying that, although they will simplify the bureaucratic system and will ease the access to the medical history, they can still be improved.

"I'm aware of the fact that it is not perfect, but it is perfectible. I'm sure steps forward are being taken, the services in the ambulatory are well organized, those that require a day hospitalization, continuous hospitalization. The focus is on the prevention side, and I don't refer only to patients who show no clinical symptoms, between 18 and 39 years. It's about the examination at the physician once in three years or annually if the family physician identifies a problem. Also, over 40 years, the annual examination to the family physician is mandatory. We talk about also preventive examinations for children, in this situation there are many labours discounted for growth disturbances, but also for examinations performed before leaving the hospital after birth, a month later, at the domicile of the child and then after two, four, six and nine months. It's good to form this habit starting from childhood", said the minister.

He talked about also the pregnants monitoring, stating that it has been stipulated their monitoring in the legislative package from the first month of pregnancy.

"It is stipulated till the seven month an examination discounted monthly, during the last two months two examinations a month", stated the minister.

Nicolae Bănicioiu stated there are other amendments that are strictly connected with the settlement and of access ease to settlement and reminded that the referrals will not be valid for a month, but for 69 days.

"I'm saying that starting from this month we succeed to have an integrated system, we will know what we pay and the services we benefit from. It is a system that helps to manage clearly the resources and to have a detailed diagnostic of everything that is going on in the system and for the improvement of services for the patient", stated the Minister of Health.

He said that the Chronic Patients Alliance in Romania (APCR) should have sued, nominally, the ones who kept them without drugs and not the Romanian state.

The Chronic Patients Alliance (APCR) made an announcement last week, that sued the Romanian state, in three different cases, for the non-observance of the patients' right to Health, guaranteed by Constitution, by the fact that it hasn't updated for six years the compensated drugs list.