Elderly cancer patients in four counties left without access to life-saving radiotherapy

A dramatic situation is taking shape within Romania's healthcare system, where cancer patients in four counties have no access to essential radiotherapy services. The Federation of Cancer Patient Associations (FABC) has sent an open letter to the authorities, raising the alarm over a crisis that disproportionately affects older people — the most vulnerable group when it comes to cancer.

Elderly people account for a significant proportion of oncology patients, being more susceptible to developing malignant tumours as they age. For them, limited access to radiotherapy can mean the difference between life and death, and the absence of these services in the affected areas forces patients to travel long distances to receive the treatment they need.

The situation creates a glaring inequality within the healthcare system, where a patient's postcode can determine their chances of survival. Senior citizens, who often have reduced mobility and limited financial resources, are the hardest hit by this lack of specialist medical infrastructure in their own counties.

The open letter highlights a major gap between the situation on the ground and what exists on paper, where services appear to be formally available yet are not accessible in practice. This state of affairs puts the lives of elderly cancer patients at risk — people who require prompt intervention and continuous treatment.

The Federation is calling for urgent measures to address the situation, including investment in radiotherapy equipment and specialist staff. For the families of affected older patients, this crisis means not only emotional suffering, but also additional costs for travel and accommodation in other counties where services are available.