Budget for prevention and screening programs increases to 1.2 billion lei

The budget allocated to national health programs dedicated to screening and prevention will reach 1.2 billion lei this year, up from 900 million lei in 2025, according to an announcement made by Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete. The statement was published on the minister's official Facebook page, which highlighted the need to strengthen prevention policies in the medical system. The Health Minister explained that the budget increase reflects a change in approach in public health policies, oriented towards prevention. "It is a clear, necessary and assumed increase. Why? Because we know very well the cost of inaction: late diagnoses, more difficult treatments, avoidable suffering," Alexandru Rogobete said.

• Expanding oncological screening programs

According to the official, the authorities will expand screening programs for several types of cancer, considered a priority in public health: cervical cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer. These measures aim at early detection of diseases, in order to increase the chances of treatment and reduce mortality.

• Progress in neonatal screening

Another element highlighted by the minister is the expansion of neonatal screening. The number of biomarkers tested will increase significantly, from three to 22, a level that exceeds the average in the European Union. "This means faster detection and real chances for children from the first days of life," Alexandru Rogobete said. In parallel, the Ministry of Health aims to strengthen the basic medical infrastructure, including: the development of outpatient clinics, strengthening the role of family doctors, predictable financing of prevention programs, directly from the state budget. The official admitted that the system has not yet reached the desired level, but stressed that the direction of the reforms is clear. "I know that we are not yet where we need to be. But the direction is clear, and the changes are already visible," the Minister of Health concluded.