Health Minister Speaks About New Treatment Of Hepatitis C
Romanian Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu said the new interferon-free treatment for Hepatitis C must be administered correctly and supervised by the specialist doctor and the family physician, otherwise, the virus becomes resistant to treatment.
“No country, no matter how much money it has, can afford at this moment to treat all Hepatitis C patients. Romania is among the first European countries to introduce the new therapy. However, the treatment must be administered correctly and supervised by the specialist doctor and the family physician. If the treatment is not taken correctly, the virus becomes resistant to the drug and there will be no other solution to treat the disease,” said Banicioiu. (Romania Libera)
Seven New Medicines To Be Included On Compensated Drug List As Of 2015
Seven new medicines for various oncologic diseases for which there is no therapeutic alternative will be included on the list of compensated and free drugs as of this year, Heath Minister Nicolae Banicioiu said Thursday.
“End-April 2015, seven drugs without therapeutic alternative for oncologic diseases have received approval to be included on the list of compensated and free drugs. For two of them, which are used to treat lung cancer and soft tissue sarcoma, were concluded cost-volume contracts on September 2,” Banicioiu explained. (Adevarul)
Romania Could Stop Importing Russian Gas As Of Next Year
Romania could stop importing natural gas from Russia as of next year, as it may be able to cover its own consumption needs from domestic output, Niculae Havrilet, head of the country’s energy regulator ANRE told Mediafax Thursday.
“We haven’t imported anything since April. We estimate imports will stand at around 3% [of consumption] this year but we’re only importing gas to stay balanced. For instance, in case of a harsh winter, gas cannot be extracted from storage at normal pressure. If domestic output covers consumption next year, we’ll stop imports,” said Havrilet.
Romania’s energy regulator estimates the country’s consumption at 11 billion cubic meters this year, of which imports make up just 3% from 25% before 2008. Last year, Romania imported 7.5% of its total natural gas consumption. Consumption declined from 17-18 billion cubic meters in 2008 to 11 billion cubic meters in 2014. Havrilet said the country’s consumption is seen at 11 billion cubic meters or less this year as six chemical plants, which used up around 2 billion cubic meters of gas a year, have been shut down since April. Romania stored 2.7 billion cubic meters of gas last year. (Jurnalul National)
Romania Consumer Prices Decline in August, Annual Inflation at -1.9%
Romanian consumer prices continued their decline in August, falling 0.5% on the month, taking the annual inflation rate to -1.9%, the country’s statistics institute said Thursday.
Romanians paid 0.79% less for food and 0.54% less for non-food items in August compared to July, while service prices rose 0.02% on the month. Compared to August 2014, prices of food items dropped 7.15%, while non-food items were 0.77% more expensive and prices of services grew 2%, the data showed.
Romania’s annual inflation rate turned negative for the first time in more than 25 years back in June, as the country cut the value-added tax rate for food products to 9% from 24%. (Adevarul)
Iohannis Displeased With Refugee Quota Project Presented In EP
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday said he noted with “some dissatisfaction” the project presented in the European Parliament (EP) regarding the mandatory quotas of refugees each EU member state must agree to take.
“I have noted with some dissatisfaction the project presented in the European Parliament, namely the fact that the Commission had worked on a rather bureaucratic project which, in my opinion, will not solve the problem. However, we are dealing with a project that also sets details that might not have been necessary at this phase, namely, with respect to the number of immigrants that can be allotted to various states,” Iohannis said at the presidential Cotroceni Palace.
Iohannis also said the JHA Council convenes in an extraordinary session on Monday, September 14, to discuss the matter. He added Romania will be represented by its interior minister with whom he had a discussion and the latter’s mandate at the JHA meeting is to not declare Romania’s adherence to the mandatory quotas. (Puterea)