Radio România Internațional

Tag: oncology

  • Romania is facing a shortage of medicines

    Romania is facing a shortage of medicines

    The
    number of people diagnosed with respiratory infections is on the rise in
    Romania just like in most of the European countries in this cold season. A
    higher number of people than usual have requested assistance from family
    physicians and hospitals around the country. Doctors have lately reported cases
    of double infection with both Covid and flu viruses, as well as patients
    infected with the new strain known as Kraken.




    Experts
    believe the new flu wave is going to reach its peak in the following weeks and
    will begin to diminish in the second half of February. They have again urged
    people to refrain from getting random treatment and call for professional assistance
    instead, as the growing number of infection has recently caused a shortage of some
    medicines.




    Pharmacies
    across the country have reported a shortage of drugs used in pediatric
    treatment such as those based on ibuprofen, paracetamol or even some antibiotics.
    According to Health Minister Alexandru Rafila,
    parents have complained about the absence on the market of several types of anti-fever
    syrups used in the treatment of children. On the other hand, patients have complained
    about the higher prices in the replacements of these products.




    Minister
    Rafila has again given assurances that Romania isn’t facing a crisis of inflammatory
    drugs as there are factories producing these types of medicine here and
    explained the shortage was caused by the delayed supplies of raw materials from
    China.


    Late
    last year the ministry proposed a temporary suspension in the exports of
    anti-fever drugs and antibiotics. In turn, producers have complained that prices
    in some medicines do not cover the production costs adding that their small prices
    and latest price hikes in electricity will lead to the disappearance of several
    types of drugs.




    The
    situation is even more complicated when it comes to the treatment of cancer. According
    to the president of the Federal Association of Cancer Patients, Cezar Irimia, 7
    oncology drugs have been missing since last year.




    Cezar Irimia: These drugs have been missing since last
    year. And we have reported the issue to the ministry and they pledged a
    solution to the situation. We have even produced evidence these drugs are being
    exported, but to no avail. Our call-center has signaled the absence of 7
    oncology drugs since the beginning of the year.




    However, the ministry
    says only three medicines are missing out of which, two are present in storage
    facilities. Here is Health Minister Alexandru Rafila




    Alexandru Rafila: We have checked and found out that of these three
    medicines, two are in storage in large quantities now. Of course, as a ministry,
    we cannot replace hospital managers who haven’t ordered these medicines. There
    is only a single issue with this one product, an older oncology drug. This is
    the only problem that we are having now with this drug.




    Alexandru
    Rafila says that he is waiting for a solution in the case of the aforementioned
    drug from a specialized committee with the Health Ministry.


    (bill)

  • New investments in Romanian hospitals

    New investments in Romanian hospitals

    Massive investments will be made this year in Romanian hospitals, so as to enable physicians to provide high-quality care to patients, the Healthcare Minister Sorina Pintea announced. She explained that the investments consist in construction, extension and revamping, and equipment procurement, and will target both the hospitals run by the Ministry, and the ones managed by local authorities. This means that the money will be channelled not only into emergency hospitals, but also in the smaller, town and city hospitals, which must be able to provide support to the big healthcare units.



    The Ministrys investment budget this year is around 210 million euros, as against a rough 200 million euros earmarked last year. The Healthcare Minister also added that, under an agreement with the World Bank, Romania benefits from a total amount of 79 million euros, over half of which already earmarked in 2018, with another 63 million euro worth of investments scheduled for this year.



    Sorina Pintea: “In 2019, 2 emergency care units will be built, one in Oradea, worth 2.8 million euros, and another one in Brasov, worth 2.2 million euros. Also this year, we will have the radiotherapy bunker ready at the Cluj Oncology Institute, following a 1.1-million euro investment. Partnerships with local authorities will also help finance the design and construction works for further developing the radiotherapy network in Targu Mures, Timisoara, Iasi, and Bucharest, in a total investment of 8 million euros.



    The Healthcare Minister also added that modern radiation therapy equipment worth 20 million euros will be purchased for several oncology institutes in the country. Four centres using high-quality equipment for the treatment of severe burns are also scheduled to become operational as of 2020. Sorina Pintea went on to say that 2 of them will be located in Bucharest, and one each in Timisoara and Targu Mures. Feasibility contracts have also been signed for these projects.



    On the other hand, Pintea spoke about the authorities lack of involvement in setting up units for major burns treatment since the Colectiv tragedy in Bucharest. On October 30, 2015, during a rock concert, a fire caused by a fireworks show led to the death of 64 people and left nearly 200 others injured.



    Sorina Pintea: “Of course the authorities should have been more involved, since the Colectiv incident. All I can tell you at this point is that, according to the architects, we do have state-of-the-art centres, with high-quality equipment, but we dont have the staff to work there.



    According to Sorina Pintea, under the same agreement with the World Bank, a team of Romanian physicians and nurses are in France these days, for training in major burns treatment.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)