1. Art 1 – UN Charta of Human Rights Art.2 - EU Charta of Fundamental Rights The Right to Life Treaty of Lisbon – It is our responsibility to protect life WHO – Health represents a matter of safety and security WATCH – Non-recognition of pain represents a violation of human rights HEALTH COMMISSIONER DALLI – Oct 15,2010 - The ultimate objective of EU is to have patients treated well in their own countries HEALTH COMMISSIONER DALLI - April 3,2012 The time has come for the implementation of EU strategies in the field of health

2. Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union Article 35 "A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities".

3. Romanian Constitution Article 34 The State is obliged to guarantee the sheltering of healthcare

4. In reality - GDP in EE countries 3.5-6 max - (as compared to 9-10 in E15) - Low Priority for health in public sector - (allocation 6-10% as compared to 15-20 in E15 -Life expectancy in EE countries 65-75 (as compared to 80-85 in E15) - Low incidence of cancer and yet high mortality

5. Reality Per capita, Romania has the lowest medical expenses within the EU member States Poland – recently lengthened the waiting time for deciding on Thalidomide treatment Bulgaria – absence of novel treatments

6. Target Self-Governance of the Health system Collaborative approach Patients Organizations Doctors/Hospitals Scientific Researchers Industry National Health Govt. Institutions

7. MAIN INSTRUMENT /FACILITATOR/PARTNER EU HEALTH COMMISSION AND EU LEGISLATIVE BODIES Legislative Acts clearly formulated (too many “” EU member states may and very few MUST””) Strategic planning for health system based on sustainable objectives More meaningful STATEMENTS

8. EU CHALLENGES Establishment of a new EU legislative framework in the field of health Directives not recommendations Harmonized health for all EU member states Mandatory standards in the field of health for all EU member states Higher budget allocation Fair access to medical treatment and medication Reducing inequity in health and access to health care

9. Presently Cross Border Health Care Directive Leaves a lot of freedom to MS Patients must advocate for the best transposition of it Is it feasible

10. OBJECTIVES Information Advocacy at the national level Patients’Empowerment Advocacy at the EU level

11. TARGETS OF MYELOMA EURONET ROMANIA Empowerment of the patients Respect and dignity The right to decide Improvement of Quality of Life Access to fair medical treatment

12. ROMANIAN HEALTH SYSTEM Lack of Infrastructure : Equipment Decent remuneration of medical corp Medication Insufficient hospitals /beds Lack of information

13. ACCESS TO THE ROMANIAN HEALTH SYSTEM HINDERED BY Economic difficulties/crisis Small income Ignorance of patients’ rights Lack of patients’ information Poor management Non involvement of patients‘organizations in the decision making proces

14. Status vis-a-vis other EU MS Lack of harmonization with other EU member states Lack of support from Pharma Companies Lack of support from civil society

15. CAUSES AND IMPACT CAUSES : The lowest GDP within EU IMPACT: Great Differences Research HTA Access to novel treatments for cancer

16. I, Viorica Cursaru DO NOT have a financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with one or more organizations that could be perceived as a real or apparent conflict of interest in the context of the subject of this presentation.