Romania is facing a shortage of medicines

Romanias hospitals and pharmacies are facing a shortage of medicines but the Health Ministry has given assurances that no medicine crisis is presently affecting the country

Daniela Budu, 12.01.2023, 14:00

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)