The electronic ID card will also serve as a health card from 1 September

From 1 September, Romanians who already hold an electronic identity card (the chip-enabled ID) can use it in place of the national health card. This development has been made possible by the launch of the esanatateamea.ro IT platform, developed by the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) as part of the public healthcare system's digitalisation process.

In practice, those who hold an electronic ID card will be able to identify themselves and access validated medical services directly using this document — whether at their GP's surgery, at hospital, or at the pharmacy when collecting subsidised prescriptions.

This is not a mandatory change

CNAS and the relevant authorities emphasise that switching to identification via the electronic ID card is optional. People who have not yet exchanged their identity card and still hold an older-style ID can continue to use the standard national health card without any restrictions.

It should be noted that the new IT system is currently in a testing phase, and the reliable functioning of this option depends on the digital platform being fully stabilised.

What happens to medical data

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) assures citizens that the medical information stored on the chip of the new identity cards is protected. According to the MAI, this data will benefit from security protocols similar to those already used on existing health cards, and will be accessible exclusively to authorised medical personnel.