More than 100 innovative molecules have been included in the list of reimbursed and free medicines in the last three years, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said on Thursday.
He participated in the event „Health Forum: Cancer can be defeated through prevention, early detection and innovative therapy! 2025 Edition,” organized by DC News Media Group.
Rafila said that at least 26 of the over 100 innovative medicines introduced treat oncological diseases.
„In the last three years, the number of innovative medicines that have been included in the list of reimbursed and free medicines has exceeded 100. It is a record in terms of access to innovative therapies. At least 26 of these are for oncological therapies,” the minister said.
According to the Minister of Health, significant steps have been taken in Romania regarding access to diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with oncological diseases.
„Access to radiotherapy is currently greatly improved. In addition to the numerous promoted centres that existed, 12 public centres have appeared. (…) Basically, waiting lists for radiotherapy no longer exist. (…) The reimbursement of radiotherapy services is comprehensive,” Alexandru Rafila also showed.
He argued that for the coming period, regional networks based on competence levels must be created for the treatment of oncological patients. „They must become operational, so that people no longer go from one end of the country to the other, and this has started to happen in many areas of Romania,” the minister highlighted.
Rafila also stated that the Ministry of Health is developing, together with the World Bank, a project that has two essential components: establishing new drug pricing policies in Romania and prioritising the way in which innovative drugs are introduced on the market.
AGERPRES