Nearly a thousand
\ncases of flu reported per week, overcrowded pediatric hospitals and drug stores
\nrunning short on key supplies – this is what the start of the flu season looks
\nlike in Romania. This is the first winter after the COVID-19 pandemic when
\nhealth safety restrictions are lifted. As medics had expected, a wave of
\nrespiratory infections, some of them with complications, has been reported this
\nmonth, affecting children in particular. The number of people reporting
\nsymptoms has gone up alarmingly in recent weeks, and patients sometimes wait
\nfor hours in emergency wards or in family physician practices before getting a
\nconsultation. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At the same time, the number of children requiring admission due
\nto complications has also gone up, doctors say. In this context, earlier this
\nmonth, the Health Ministry announced the setup of 59 centers for medical evaluation
\nof children with respiratory infections, a measure designed to facilitate
\nchildren’s access to medical assistance and to reduce waiting times in emergency
\nwards. In turn, pharmacists say they have run out of anti-inflammatory drugs
\nand antipyretics, which are demanded particularly for treating children. The
\nAssociation of Industrial Producers of Medicine in Romania has confirmed that
\nthe use of ibuprofen-based drugs and paracetamol has gone up by 50% compared to
\n2021. The same employers’ association says that drug stores are however
\nequipped with alternatives to the best-known medicine brands, arguing the
\nproblem is likely to be solved early next year, when approximately 200 thousand
\nsuch pain relief drugs, made in both Romania and abroad, are expected to
\narrive. Health Minister Alexandru Rafila says the situation is the same in
\nother countries and is a consequence of growing drug consumption. The Minister
\nrecalls, however, that the authorities have presented alternatives to the
\nbest-known medicine that are currently unavailable. Furthermore, drug shelves
\nare empty also due to mispricing, the Health Minister argued, adding that a new
\nmethodology for setting prices is now being considered, in addition to possibly
\nintroducing a temporary restriction on exporting certain drugs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Over the coming
\nperiod we will consult with the National Health Insurance Agency in terms of
\nintroducing a new methodology for setting prices, which should prevent drugs
\nfrom becoming unavailable due to commercial reasons. We are also examining the
\npossibility of restricting the export of certain drugs, particularly
\nantibiotics for children and other types of medicine, including oncology
\ndrugs. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Doctors say the best
\nways to prevent seasonal flu include taking the anti-flu vaccine, observing
\nhygiene regulations and avoiding crowded areas. Moreover, authorities say, the
\nnew anti-COVID serum adapted to combat the Omicron strains of the virus is also
\navailable on the market. (VP) <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A flu epidemic has hit Romania hard at the start of the cold season<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":92832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[32089,33237,40027,37300],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-94117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-drugs","tag-flu-season","tag-health-safety-restrictions","tag-respiratory-diseases"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n