Government to cut state-paid sick leave by one day from 2026

The Romanian Government is preparing a significant change to the sick leave system, which will directly affect all Romanians who rely on such benefits. From 1 February 2026 until the end of 2027, the duration of paid sick leave funded from public sources will be reduced by one day for all medical certificates issued during this period.

This measure forms part of a broader effort to ease pressure on the budget of the Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate (National Health Insurance House). Although payment is reduced by one day, the authorities have confirmed that the period in question will continue to count as insurance tenure, meaning beneficiaries will retain their insured status within the health system.

Exceptions for serious conditions

The draft legislation includes a list of conditions that will be exempt from this rule — likely serious or chronic illnesses requiring longer recovery periods. This list, along with the implementing regulations, is to be published within 30 days of the ordinance entering into force, providing important clarification for both patients and doctors.

How the current system works

At present, the sick leave system is structured hierarchically. A GP may grant a maximum of seven days for a single episode of illness, typically split into an initial four days with a three-day extension. Over the course of a full year, a patient may receive up to 28 days of sick leave from their GP.

For more serious or persistent conditions, a specialist may take over the case and grant sick leave for periods of between 15 and 30 days. These periods may subsequently be extended in increments of 31 days for severe conditions. The maximum threshold for a single condition is 90 days per year, and any extension beyond this requires approval from a serious illness expert within the CNAS.

Impact on elderly patients

For Romanian seniors, this change may carry particular implications, given that older people use medical services more frequently and generally require longer recovery periods. The one-day reduction in publicly funded payment could pose an additional financial challenge for pensioners on limited incomes, who are already contending with rising costs for medication and medical care.

The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, noted that the draft may undergo last-minute amendments during the Government session itself, suggesting that details regarding implementation or the list of exemptions could still be adjusted in order to strike a balance between the need for budgetary savings and the social protection of vulnerable patients.