Zaharescu said authorities are trying to lay the burden of the crisis-affected medical system on medicine producers. The producers currently have the backing of the international organizations they are part of, but since the crisis affects Europe and the entire world, it is unknown how long they will have the resources to support the Romanian system.
„While pharmacists have agreed to be paid within 210 days, as provided by the new frame-contract, changing the compensation system for certain groups will force patients to pay more,” Zaharescu said during a conference.
Conference participants warned that the lack of resources could halt many vital treatments and thus endanger patients’ lives and jeopardize national healthcare programs.
Romanian Health Minister Cseke Attila said early February the medicine price would rise starting April 1 as the 2010 state budget law was based on an exchange rate of 4.25 lei for one euro, compared to 4.00 lei per euro in 2009.
The prices of medicine listed in the National Medicine Catalogue are set in April each year according to the exchange rate used in drawing up the budget for the respective year.
The National Medicine Catalogue includes 5,042 medicines whose prices are set by the Health Ministry.