Head of CNAS: disruptions to cytostatic drugs are not the fault of the Health Insurance House

The President of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), Horațiu Moldovan, has confirmed that there are "certain discontinuities for certain medicines", including some cytostatics used in the treatment of oncology patients. He stressed, however, that these issues cannot "under any circumstances" be attributed to CNAS.

"I have acknowledged very clearly and transparently that there are certain discontinuities for certain medicines, including cytostatic drugs. Such discontinuities exist not only in Romania, but in all countries of the European Union and around the world, and they arise primarily due to production problems or issues within the distribution chain. Under no circumstances do such discontinuities in Romania exist for reasons attributable to the National Health Insurance House, as the National House is the institution responsible for financing and reimbursing these medicines," Horațiu Moldovan stated on Tuesday, according to News.ro.

Moldovan explained that, within the Ministry of Health, there are institutions responsible for the importation of medicines, whilst CNAS deals exclusively with their payment. According to him, the institution he leads has no remit relating to the importation of medicines, as this is a commercial activity.

He further emphasised that patient representatives had noted that these were "discontinuities, not crises".