Romania Last in the EU: Seniors Wait Three Years for New Medicines

A recent EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) report, "Patients W.A.I.T. 2025", places Romania last in the European Union when it comes to patient access to innovative medical treatments. This situation particularly affects older people, who most often have the greatest need for specialised therapies to manage the chronic conditions that come with age.

The data show that Romanian patients must wait an average of 1,110 days — approximately three years — for a newly approved medicine, already authorised at European level, to be included in the reimbursement system of the Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate (National Health Insurance House). This delay can have dramatic consequences for elderly patients suffering from conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or neurological disorders.

For older people living on small pensions, the absence of reimbursement frequently makes these treatments unaffordable due to their prohibitive costs. Innovative medicines for conditions common in old age — such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or various forms of cancer — can cost thousands of euros per month.

The situation is all the more serious given that Romania has an increasingly ageing population with growing medical needs. Specialists warn that systemic delays in access to modern treatments can lead to a deterioration in the health of elderly patients and to higher long-term costs for the healthcare system.

Compared with other EU countries, where the approval and reimbursement process takes an average of 400 to 500 days, Romania's delays are more than twice as long. This structural problem demands urgent reform to ensure that older people have fair access to the medical therapies they need.