The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, announced the establishment of an inter-institutional monitoring and control group for the availability of medicines in Romania, in the current international context, marked by instability in the Middle East and real pressures on the economy.
The decision comes as a precautionary measure, not in response to an existing crisis. The minister emphasized that although there are currently no major problems in the supply of medicines, “the experience of the last years has clearly shown us that the late reaction costs – in patients’ access to treatment and in the stability of the system.”
The new group will operate on the basis of a daily monitoring of drug stocks and consumption, with a focus on products at risk of discontinuation. In parallel, the authorities will monitor the evolution of prices, including the impact of logistics and fuel costs, Rogobete wrote on Facebook.
The main objective is the rapid identification of potential vulnerabilities and early intervention, before they affect patients’ access to treatments.
Among the measures announced by the Ministry of Health are:
– constant monitoring of drug stocks, especially sensitive ones;
– collection and analysis of consumption and availability data;
– proposing solutions to ensure supply continuity, including stock redistribution;
– identification of alternative supply channels;
– permanent collaboration with relevant institutions and market operators;
– informing the medical staff about therapeutic alternatives, if necessary;
– rapid signaling of critical situations.
The minister described the initiative as “a decision of responsibility”intended to ensure the stability of the health system and the continuous access of patients to treatments.
The authorities assure that they carefully monitor developments in the market and are prepared to intervene quickly, in case of malfunctions.
“We are doing the right thing, in time, so that the health system remains stable and patients continue to have access to the treatments they need.” concluded Rogobete.
