Art 1 UN Charta of Human Rights Art

Art 1 – UN Charta of Human Rights Art. 2 - EU Charta of Fundamental Rights The Right to Life n n Treaty of Lisbon – It is our responsibility to protect life WHO – Health represents a matter of safety and security WATCH – Non-recognition of pain represents a violation of human rights HEALTH COMMISSIONER DALLI – Oct 15, 2010 The ultimate objective of EU is to have patients treated well in their own countries HEALTH COMMISSIONER DALLI - April 3, 2012 The time has come for the implementation of EU strategies in the field of health

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union n Article 35 n "A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities".

Romanian Constitution n Article 34 n The State is obliged to guarantee the sheltering of healthcare

In reality - - GDP in EE countries 3. 5 -6 max - (as compared to 9 -10 in E 15) Low Priority for health in public sector - (allocation 6 -10% as compared to 15 -20 in E 15 - Life expectancy in EE countries 65 -75 (as compared to 80 -85 in E 15) - Low incidence of cancer and yet high mortality

Reality n n n Per capita, Romania has the lowest medical expenses within the EU member States Poland – recently lengthened the waiting time for deciding on Thalidomide treatment Bulgaria – absence of novel treatments

Target Self-Governance of the Health system n Collaborative approach n n n Patients Organizations Doctors/Hospitals Scientific Researchers Industry National Health Govt. Institutions

MAIN INSTRUMENT /FACILITATOR/PARTNER n EU HEALTH COMMISSION AND EU LEGISLATIVE BODIES n n n Legislative Acts clearly formulated (too many “” EU member states may and very few MUST””) Strategic planning for health system based on sustainable objectives More meaningful STATEMENTS

EU CHALLENGES n Establishment of a new EU legislative framework in the field of health n Directives not recommendations n n Harmonized health for all EU member states Mandatory standards in the field of health for all EU member states n Higher budget allocation n Fair access to medical treatment and medication n Reducing inequity in health and access to health care

Presently Cross Border Health Care Directive Leaves a lot of freedom to MS Patients must advocate for the best transposition of it Is it feasible

OBJECTIVES n Information n Patients’Empowerment n Advocacy at the EU level n Advocacy at the national level

TARGETS OF MYELOMA EURONET ROMANIA n Empowerment of the patients n n Respect and dignity The right to decide Improvement of Quality of Life Access to fair medical treatment

ROMANIAN HEALTH SYSTEM n n Lack of Infrastructure : n Equipment n Decent remuneration of medical corp n Medication n Insufficient hospitals /beds Lack of information

ACCESS TO THE ROMANIAN HEALTH SYSTEM HINDERED BY n n n Economic difficulties/crisis Small income Ignorance of patients’ rights Lack of patients’ information Poor management Non involvement of patients‘organizations in the decision making proces

Status vis-a-vis other EU MS n n n Lack of harmonization with other EU member states Lack of support from Pharma Companies Lack of support from civil society

CAUSES AND IMPACT n CAUSES : The lowest GDP within EU n IMPACT: n Great Differences n n n Research HTA Access to novel treatments for cancer

I, Viorica Cursaru DO NOT have a financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with one or more organizations that could be perceived as a real or apparent conflict of interest in the context of the subject of this presentation.