The Senate has approved the extension of paid leave for those accompanying cancer patients to medical investigations

Families of people diagnosed with cancer could receive paid leave and allowance not only when accompanying patients to treatments or operations, but also to the medical investigations required for diagnosing or monitoring the illness. The Senate adopted a bill to this effect, with 106 votes in favour out of 107 senators present. The bill is set to be debated and voted on by the Chamber of Deputies, which will make the final decision.

What the bill would change

The initiative was put forward by USR deputies Ciprian Rigman, Adrian Wiener, and Ovidiu Paraschivescu, and amends the legislation on leave and allowances granted to those who care for cancer patients. Under current law, these entitlements are available only to those accompanying adult oncology patients to treatments and surgical procedures, with no explicit mention of medical investigations.

Under the new proposal, a family member or close person would be able to claim leave and allowance when accompanying a patient to tests, consultations, or other illness-related investigations. The conditions for eligibility would be a request from the patient and a recommendation from the treating physician.

The initiators' arguments

The initiators argue that current legislation puts at a disadvantage those who need to take time off work to accompany parents, spouses, or other close relatives undergoing cancer treatment, and that supporting a cancer patient should not result in financial losses for the family.

Deputy Ovidiu Paraschivescu stated: "People need a warm hand in hospital corridors, not closed doors and pointless paperwork. Being able to accompany your mother, father, or spouse to a medical appointment without losing part of your salary is perfectly normal. We cannot wait years for new hospitals to be built; cancer patients need support now. We thank the 106 out of 107 senators who understood this urgency and voted in support of our bill."

Deputy Ciprian Rigman highlighted the fact that the bill passed without a single vote against it: "What may not seem like much to a healthy person is, for a cancer patient and their family, a concrete and welcome form of help during a difficult time, when any helping hand makes a real difference for the better. I thank all my fellow senators, who demonstrated, by adopting this legislative proposal without a single vote against it, that supporting cancer patients transcends political allegiance — as is only right."

Deputy Adrian Wiener, a doctor by profession, drew attention to the difficulties within the healthcare system: "A cancer diagnosis is a trauma. In Romania, it still sounds like a death sentence. On top of that, there is a healthcare system like a labyrinth — hard to navigate, with waiting lists, appointments, referrals, tests, and medical documents. No one should have to go through it alone. The law that I initiated alongside my colleagues will ease that journey and provide a minimum of support to patients. It is a matter of respect and decency."

Why this change is needed

Cancer patients must go through numerous consultations and investigations — laboratory tests, imaging, repeated check-ups — both before and during treatment, so that doctors can monitor the progression of the disease. These stages often involve long journeys, hours of waiting, and extensive medical paperwork, and the presence of a loved one matters both for emotional support and practical assistance.

When it could come into force

For the time being, the measure does not apply, as the bill has been adopted only by the Senate. To become law, it must also be voted on by the Chamber of Deputies, which holds the decision-making role, then promulgated and published in the Official Gazette. If adopted in its current form, the bill will amend Emergency Ordinance no. 158/2005, allowing leave and allowances to be granted for accompanying adult cancer patients to medical investigations.