Rare diseases are affecting almost one million people in Romania, Minister of Health Alexandru Rafila said on Friday, according to Agerpres.

He attended the conference called „Rare diseases in national health strategies and programmes,” organized by the National Alliance for Rare Diseases Romania (ANBRaRo) within the framework of the European Project for Rare Diseases National Plans Development (EUROPLAN).

He argued that there are still disadvantaged communities in the country who do not even have access to diagnosis.

According to the Minister of Health, the National Health Strategy, which is being revised, will also include sectoral strategies.

„Obviously, the National Health Strategy, which is now being revised, so that we can also include the sectoral strategies existing in this area, whether we’re referring to rare diseases, the National Plan to fight cancer or the Strategy in the area of cardiovascular diseases, we certainly shall include at least a synthesis of the activities related to the Rare Diseases Strategy,” Alexandru Rafila also stated.

He reiterated that there is a European-funded project at the Ministry of Health regarding the setting up of registers for patients.