The decision to grant sick leave belongs exclusively to the attending physician, based on the objective health status of the insured, representatives of the National Health Insurance House stated on Friday, arguing that patients’ requests, regardless of their insistence, cannot constitute a valid criterion for issuing a sick leave certificate.

„In the context of the checks announced in the public space on the issue of sick leave certificates, the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) emphasizes that the decision to grant sick leave belongs exclusively to the attending physician, based on the objective health status of the insured. It is essential to remember that patients’ requests, regardless of their insistence, cannot constitute a valid criterion for issuing a sick leave certificate,” CNAS states in a press release.

CNAS mentions that the certificate is completed and issued on the date the medical consultation is granted, establishing the necessary number of days of sick leave, except for situations for which there are legal provisions in this regard.

„To benefit from sick leave, the patient must present the certificate certifying the insured status for social health insurance leaves and benefits, which must also indicate the number of days of temporary incapacity leave taken in the last 12/24 months, as the case may be, issued by the employer (the payer of benefits)”, claims CNAS.

CNAS also reminds employers that they have a legal obligation to verify the elements included on the sick leave certificate, to manage the number of sick leave days for each insured person and for each condition, and to reject for payment sick leave certificates incorrectly completed by prescribing physicians.

„Issuing sick leave certificates by prescribing doctors in violation of the legal provisions in force, as well as failing to draw up a plan to monitor the evolution of the disease according to legal regulations, constitute contraventions punishable by fines ranging from 5,000 to 11,000 RON,” the press release also states.

Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete announced on Thursday that he had sent the ministry’s Control Body and that of the National Health Insurance House to the territory to verify „in detail” the situation of sick leave, considering that last year a million such leaves were issued, under conditions that „seem suspicious”.

AGERPRES