Government expands list of reimbursed medicines

The government has approved a new update of the list of free and reimbursed medicines, one of the most extensive in recent years. According to the announcement made by the Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, 33 new medicines will be introduced into the reimbursement system, and for another 19 treatments the therapeutic indications will be expanded. The decision was adopted at the proposal of the Ministry of Health, and the authorities claim that the measure will facilitate patients' access to modern therapies, especially in the case of serious or rare diseases. "At the proposal of the Ministry of Health, the Government has approved a new update of the list of free and reimbursed medicines, 33 new medicines are included in the list, and for another 19 we are expanding the therapeutic indications. It is one of the most extensive updates in recent years," declared Minister Alexandru Rogobete.

• Innovative therapy for prostate cancer

One of the important novelties is the introduction into the public system of the first radiopharmaceutical medicine intended for oncological treatment: Lutetium Vipivotide Tetraxetan, used in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. According to the Ministry of Health, the medicine is part of a new generation of targeted therapies that use radioisotopes to destroy tumor cells, while reducing the impact on healthy tissues. In parallel, 14 other new medicines will be included in the National Oncology Program, for the treatment of several types of cancer, including: melanoma, carcinoma, hepatocellular, cholangiocarcinoma, multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, lymphomas, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, solid tumors with genetic mutations, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The authorities emphasize that, in the absence of compensation, some of these treatments can cost tens of thousands of euros for patients.

• Broader access to treatments for rare diseases

The update of the list also targets patients suffering from rare diseases or severe conditions, for which therapeutic options are limited. Among the diseases for which access to new treatments is ensured are: giant cell arteritis, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, Myasthenia gravis, Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder,

lysosomal acid lipase deficiency, Fabry disease. For these pathologies, treatments are often very expensive and difficult to access without the support of the public health system.

• Extended therapeutic indications for other medicines

In addition to the new therapies introduced in the list, the authorities have also decided to extend the therapeutic indications for 19 already compensated medicines. Basically, they will be able to be used for the treatment of additional conditions.

The extension of therapeutic indications allows the use of the same medicines in more clinical situations, which increases patients' access to already validated treatments. The Minister of Health stated that the update is part of a broader process of modernizing access to treatment in Romania. "In just seven months, we have expanded the list of reimbursed medicines with over 90 new medicines and therapeutic indications. For some of these treatments, patients ended up paying tens of thousands of euros out of their own pockets,” stressed Alexandru Rogobete. According to him, each medicine introduced into the system represents "an additional chance for treatment, time gained and hope for patients and their families.” The expansion of the list of reimbursed medicines takes place in a context in which European health systems are facing increasing costs for innovative therapies, especially in oncology and the treatment of rare diseases. In Romania, the introduction of new molecules on the reimbursement list depends on medical technology assessments, price negotiations and the budget available for national health programs. Authorities say that the current update aims to reduce the gaps compared to other European countries in terms of patients' access to modern treatments.