Crisis and prevention in Romanian medicine
After several infants from Arges county were taken to a Bucharest hospital, diagnosed with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome, the Romanian healthcare authorities have taken a series of measures.
România Internațional, 23.02.2016, 14:56
Cross-checks will start on March 10 in all hospitals in Romania, Healthcare minister Patriciu Achimaş-Cadariu announced on Monday. The measure was taken after several babies from Arges County (in the south of Romania) were taken to the “Marie Curie” hospital in Bucharest, having been diagnosed with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Three of the babies have died. The delayed reaction of the Romanian authorities and the fact that they have not yet found the source of contamination have stirred a wave of criticism.
According to the Healthcare Minister this case has proved that a whole information chain was non-functional. He said the hospital in Pitesti had not reported the situation in due time and the investigation was delayed because the Arges Public Health Department had found about the case from the media. The Healthcare Minister called on public health institutions to show more responsibility, to observe regulations and have a better communication with the local authorities. He insisted on a more efficient collaboration between inspection and monitoring bodies and on a revision of the internal working procedures.
Health Minister, Patriciu Achimaş-Cadariu: “I insisted on the transfer of responsibilities at a local level, but, at the same time, on cooperation between the Healthcare Ministry, institutions and departments, irrespective if they are subordinated to the Healthcare Ministry or to County Councils or City Halls. The law is the same for everybody”.
Minister Cadariu also called on public and private hospitals to set up their own registers of communicable diseases and unexpected events. They are to be checked on a weekly basis by the representatives of the public county health departments. Meanwhile the condition of the children hospitalized at the “Marie Curie” hospital has improved. According to the head of the nephrology section, Mihaela Bălgrădean, the children are fed normally, which is an important step forward in the evolution of their health.
Almost 3 weeks have passed since the first cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome were reported, but the authorities have not managed to identify the cause of infection yet. The epidemiological investigation coordinated by a team of foreign experts, which is now in Romania, is under way. In parallel, the Romanian Prime Minister’s Control Body started to verify the way in which medical treatment is provided and the way in which the causes of disease are being investigated.
