Alexandru Rogobete calls for the development of infrastructure for breast cancer screening, despite the increase in the number of mammography units

Former Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete highlighted the need to develop medical infrastructure for breast cancer screening in a post published on Facebook. He says equipment purchases made between 2023 and 2026 have expanded diagnostic capacity, but still do not meet the population’s needs.

Through the project carried out with the World Bank, 124 mammography units were purchased, while investments financed through European funds supplemented the existing infrastructure. Romania currently has more than 180 mammography units nationwide.

Rogobete stresses, however, that the country remains in the lower part of the European ranking in terms of the number of mammography units per 100,000 inhabitants. He considers additional investment in equipment and a more balanced distribution of units among regions necessary.

According to the former minister, an effective screening program also requires trained medical staff, easy access for women, and a fast pathway from investigation to diagnosis and treatment. Detecting cancer at an early stage increases the chances of effective treatment and can reduce healthcare system costs. Rogobete says that money allocated to screening represents an investment in health and in improving the chances of a longer life.