The President of the National Health Insurance Company (CNAS), Dr. Valeria Herdea, announced that from July 1, free services for uninsured patients will be included in the National Cancer Plan, which will be settled from the state budget. At the end of last year, there were 204,722 cancer cases in Romania.
Screening services settled for uninsured patients – Photo Archive
“Starting July 1, 2024, uninsured people will have access to preventive and early diagnostic services for oncological conditions, in accordance with the provisions of the National Plan to Combat and Control Cancer. These services will be settled from the state budget. It means that they have access to prevention services, diagnostic services and can also access the treatment plan. So it's a big step forward. “transmitted Valeria Herdea, president of CNAS.
“This year, the contract from July 1, 2024 will bring uninsured people and the World Bank's promise that these services will be paid, they will have the same rights as insured people, by virtue of the fact that the Constitution says that we are all equal. We try to change many things, but it is very difficult. It's a tough year, a year full of trials you know, it makes no sense to tell you moreValeria Herdea pointed out.
We don't want election reminders anymore
“Screening and treatment programs for cancer and other chronic diseases aim to detect as many patients as possible in the early stages of the disease and to be able to provide them with immediate treatment. We agree that everyone should have access to health care, including the uninsured, but at the expense of whom will this happen? The money is not coming even now, there is no money for medicines, salaries, bankrupt hospitals, what are we talking about? Let's see the truth in the end, what budgetary impact would it have, how much does the Bank credit us and on whose back? The World Bank doesn't give out grants, as far as I know, it only lends money and only with interest. Who gives back this money? We are tired of these election reminders on our backs. It's not a very good decision, although I want everyone to have access to investigations and treatments. I don't agree that they should get votes behind our backs”reacted Cezar Irimia, president of the Federation of Associations of Cancer Patients.
Patients who do not pay the monthly CNAS contribution can benefit from some free services. Thus, the medical services for medical-surgical emergencies are included in the basic package of medical assistance, both in primary medical assistance and in that of specialized ambulatory medical assistance. In the case of a medical or surgical emergency, patients can go either to the family doctor or to the hospital, where they will be given an anamnesis and a clinical examination, and depending on the situation they will be recommended an appropriate treatment.
If contagious disease is suspected, patients may receive clinical examination and referral to specialized hospitals for confirmation and treatment. Uninsured patients with non-isolable diseases receive day hospital care to control possible epidemics, such as influenza.
In addition, pregnant women and those who have recently given birth have free access to medical services, including specialist doctors and pregnancy monitoring investigations such as ultrasounds and tests for HIV and hepatitis. They also get post-natal care and breastfeeding advice, at least on paper.
Other medical services include: family planning (consultations and contraceptive methods), medical transport (in cases of impossibility of travel or emergencies), death confirmation (examination and issuance of medical documents, according to the law) or dental emergencies.
