Romania remains Europe's bottom in disease prevention

Romania ends 2025 with one of the lowest screening rates in the European Union, despite repeated calls from specialists and patient organizations. Access to prevention remains a luxury for millions of people, in the absence of functional national programs, and thousands of Romanians effectively depend on independent initiatives to check their health, show the conclusions of the 12th edition of the "I Didn't Do Enough" Medical Caravan, presented to the Senate by the Federation of Cancer Patients' Associations (FABC).

According to Eurostat 2025 data, cited by FABC: Only 6.2% of eligible women in Romania are tested for cervical cancer, the lowest rate in the European Union; Less than 10% of women participate in breast cancer screening; In the case of colorectal cancer, the testing rate barely reaches 3%. By comparison, the EU average exceeds 60% for these programs, and some states have coverage of over 80%. "These percentages explain why Romania is among the countries with the highest cancer mortality in the European Union,” warns FABC. The phenomenon is amplified by the major disparities between urban and rural areas: almost 45% of Romanians live in villages, where medical services are rare, incomplete or non-existent. In the absence of active national programs, medical caravans have become a substitute for missing public policies. "For thousands of Romanians, medical caravans are the only contact with prevention,” says Cezar Irimia, president of FABC. "After 12 years of caravans, we see the same thing: people want prevention, but prevention does not reach them.” The data collected by medical teams show almost non-existent access to prevention: 62% of women have never had a breast ultrasound or mammogram (down from 70% four years ago, but still dramatic); 24% have not had a breast examination in the last three years; 35% have never had an HPV or Papanicolaou test; 93% of people over 50 have never had a FIT test for colorectal cancer. "It's not a lack of interest. People come, get information, ask questions and come back for check-ups. The problem is difficult access, distance, costs, lack of transportation or the absence of specialists,” explains Irimia.

The FABC project brings teams of specialist doctors, nurses and volunteers to the villages. Residents have free access to: blood and urine tests; breast ultrasounds; urological consultations and ultrasounds; tests for occult bleeding (FIT test); blood pressure, blood sugar, weight assessments; risk questionnaires for chronic diseases.

All are carried out in partnership with medical laboratories and health organizations. FABC warns that Romania remains "deficient” in health education and calls for: the introduction of a health education lesson in the school curriculum; financing and implementation of national screening programs for the main types of cancer; concrete support for projects that reach isolated communities.