Romanian Family Doctors To Stop Issuing Prescriptions For Compensated, Free Medicine

Rodica Tanasescu, president of the Bucharest-Ilfov County branch of the Family Doctor Association, told MEDIAFAX on Thursday that the healthcare frame-contract for 2010 was approved „on the sly,” without consulting family doctors, and its provisions „will reduce the budget for primary care by almost 40%.”

Family Doctors’ Union president Doina Mihaila said that, as of April 1, there is no frame-contract and doctors will not approve the signing of a ‘blank cheque.’

Apart from refusing to issue prescriptions for compensated and free medicine, general practitioners will no longer write referral or sick leave notes for their patients.

Health Minister Cseke Attila said there is no justification for family doctors’ actions and asked Lucian Duta, president of the National Health Insurance House, to bring them up to speed with the new contracts’ provisions. According to Duta, contracts valid on March 31 have been automatically extended until new ones enter force to replace them.

Furthermore, state secretary Cristian Irimie said the frame-contract was approved in the Government meeting on Wednesday.