Romanian cancer patients who are insured at the National Health Insurance Agency (CNAS) and referred by the family doctor or specialist, can get free treatment in private medical facilities that have a contract with the Agency, according to Focus Medical Center. Usually, the cost of treatment starts from RON 2,000 (around EUR 465) and, depending on the treatment used, can be up to RON 4,000 (some EUR 930). The private clinic has a contract with CNAS, and recovers from the state  the money spent with treating insured patients.

Other private clinics in Romania reimburse only partially the cost of treatment for cancer, leaving the patient to pay for either the administration or even for the substance in case of chemotherapy. Most of the larger private healthcare operators in the country offer free analysis and consultation for insured cancer patients.

The most common forms of cancer in Romania are the lung and colorectal cancer for men, and breast and cervical cancer for women. Treatment can be very complex, depending on the type or the gravity of cancer. Surgery is the first treatment, followed by chemotherapy, but it is also treated with radiation, or immune-therapy. A chemotherapy treatment can take between 1-6 months and can be repeated after 6 months if necessary.

In Romania, over 46,000 people died in 2010 because of cancer, of which 60 percent were men and the rest were women. “Cancer is a major health problem and for its prevention it is necessary to inform and educate the public worldwide. Regular controls and detecting the first signs significantly increase the degree of healing," said Dr. Ingrid Iordan, primary oncologist, Focus Medical Center.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 12.7 million new cases of cancer in 2010 worldwide. Over 3 million Europeans are diagnosed with this health problem every year.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com;

contributions from Corina Saceanu, corina@romania-insider.com.