Romania denies over 1,000 HIV sufferers access to vital healthcare
Over 1,000 Romanians with HIV have seen gaps in drug therapy for over a month, making the carriers more sensitive to developing full-blown AIDS and spreading the HIV virus May 2010 - From the Print Edition
The Romanian state has failed to ensure that around 15 per cent of the country’s HIV/AIDS carriers have consistent treatment due to a cash crisis in the health sector and bureaucratic hold-ups.
“When the treatment stops for more than two weeks, there are very high chances the HIV virus can become resistant to the patient’s treatment scheme,” says Iulian Petre, executive director of the National Union of HIV/AIDS organisations UNOPA.
All carriers had access to drugs as we went to press - but only until 10 May. Many patients fear that further interruptions are on the way.
“The medium and long term consequences of interruptions are simple - they involve death,” says Petre.
Since 2009 counties took over the budgets for providing drugs to HIV sufferers. But the Health Ministry’s purse - the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) - only provided enough money to counties for drug treatment for two months. Meanwhile CNAS did not receive money for drugs from the Ministry of Finance at the right time.
By the end of March, over 1,000 HIV carriers in 15 counties remained without treatment. Since pressure groups protested in mid-April, CNAS sent supplementary money for treatment to all these counties.
“This money can cover the treatment for a maximum three weeks,” says Petre. “We estimate that the drugs will finish again on 10 May.” UNOPA has no assurances from the state that treatment will be consistent in the future.
At present those who could spread HIV are two at-risk categories - injectable drug users and carriers who were children in social institutions between 1986 and 1992 and were infected by blood transfusions. Around 7,000 have survived from this period, most of whom have had adequate access to anti-retroviral therapy (AVT) in the last five years.
The AVTs suppress the virus, but cannot cure the carrier. If there is an interruption in treatment, the body can develop resistance to the treatment.
“If the doctors no longer have other efficient treatment solutions because they finished most options for the patient, the person is sentenced to death,” says Petre.
A breakdown in treatment also means the carrier is more infectious, so the spread of HIV becomes more likely.
|
|
| |
|
Daily Info |
Smart city is not a fad, it's a necessity In June 2018, the ranking of the most "smart" cities in the world was published. In other words, the most advanced cities in terms of human capital, social cohesion, the econo... |
Ondrej Safar, CEZ Group: "Romania can become a hub for international smart solutions providers" "We are already in the digital age, so the upward trend of implementing smart solutions is inevitable in all areas," he tells The Diplomat-Bucharest. "Especially in terms of u... |
Telekom Romania, a strong supporter of Smart City development in Romania Just like many other countries in the world Romania is now facing an unprecedented growth of the urban population, which can be both beneficial and detrimental for the society... |
In the industrial era, the fight was for finite material resources. Not anymore Now organizations fight and develop themselves for and around their talent.
In a nutshell, getting ahead in today's business world is all about attracting and inspiring an e... |
Richard Sareczky, Mol Limo: "We look at expansion locations across CEE including Romania" Consumer mobility behaviour is changing, leading to up to one out of ten cars sold in 2030 potentially being a shared vehicle and the subsequent rise of a market for fit-for-p... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
advertising
advertising
advertising
|
More on News |
President Iohannis urges Romanians to be more united, stay involved in modernizing Romania Romania's President Klaus Iohannis urged Romanians in France to be more united and stay involved as much as they are now in helping modernise Romania. |
ArcelorMittal receives binding offer for European assets from Liberty British-owned Liberty announced a conditional agreement to buy four European steel plants, employing more than 12,500 people. |
The Romanian labour market needs a well-thought approach, says FIC The Foreign Investors Council (FIC) has signaled in the past 2-3 years that its members are anticipating increasing strains on the Romanian labour market because starting w... |
Revolut gets European banking license Fintech startup Revolut is now officially a bank. While the startup initially expected to get its European banking license during the first half of 2018, the company has fi... |
EBRD cuts economic growth forecast for Romania Romania's economy will grow by 4.2 per cent this year and by 3.6 per cent in 2019, according to the most recent forecast released by the European Bank for Reconstruction an... |
Dacia receives 115.8 million RON in state aid from the Finance Ministry The Romanian Finance Ministry has signed five more grant agreements under the state aid scheme, and among the beneficiaries are Automobile Dacia, with RON 115.8 million. |
OTP Bank Romania signs investment funds distribution deal with Eurobank Fund Management Luxembourg OTP Bank Romania signed a partnership with Eurobank Fund Management Company (Luxembourg) for the distribution of investment funds in Romania. Thus, from December 1st, OTP B... |
|