Drug Policy And Health In Romania - Drug Policy Alliance

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“orphanages” run by a charity named Heart of the Child. The hospitals and charities cannot afford drugs for all the children. Anti-retroviral cocktails cost $10,000 per child. In one hospital only 120 of the 400 infected outpatient children are on the cocktails. One doctor reported, “if he had enough money, 100 more would be (on the cocktails, because they met Romania’s virus level criteria. If they were in the United States, all 400 would be.” (6) Reportability of HIV, AIDS, HCV, HBV – Law and Practice. HIV Testing Provisions–Law and Practice. HIV testing was made mandatory for all STD and TB patients. (8) Anti-Discrimination Provisions based on HIV or drug use – Law and Practice. Privacy Generally and HIV in Particular –Law. Privacy Generally and HIV in Particular –Practice. The media, eager for scandal, often reveals a person’s HIV status. Medical staff often breach confidentiality without impunity. The Romanian press is subject to no ethical guidelines for the confidentiality of a person’s HIV status. (7) Criminal Penalties for Exposing/Transmitting HIV. Article 309, paragraph 2, of the Penal code criminalizes “transmission of AIDS” by “a person who knows him/herself to suffer from that disease.” (11) Criminalization of Prostitution –Law and Practice. Criminalization of Homosexuality –Law and Practice. The Orthodox Church campaigns aggressively against same-sex relationships. The public discourse with sexual minorities, including their vulnerability to AIDS has been poor. (7) Status of International Human Right Conventions. Romania’s status in relation to major international human rights instruments follows. ? International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR): signed December 9, 1974 ? International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR): signed December 9, 1974 ? International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Optional Protocol (CCPR-OP1): signed July 20, 1993 ? International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Second Optional Protocol (CCPR-OP2-DP): signed February 27, 1991 Romania – 21 February 2002 - 7
? International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD): signed September 15, 1970 ? Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): signed January 7, 1982 ? Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Optional Protocol (CEDAW-OP): signed September, 2000 ? Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT): signed December 18, 1990 (2) VI. PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS This section provides information on interventions to reduce HIV transmission and other health problems among drug users, the availability of drug treatment, and HIV prevention programs. A. Interventions to Reduce Disease and Other Injuries Associated With Drug Use Government Position. The Romanian Ministry of Health maintains some programs designed to educate young people about the dangers of drug use. These efforts are hampered by a lack of resources. (1) In 1994, Romania established a Ministerial Committee on HIV/AIDS. It stopped functioning in 1996 without generating any policy. Now only the Medical Commission of the Ministry of Health is concerned with HIV/AIDS. (7) As on advocate said, “There have been three changes in the minister of health in four years,” she said. “It’s chaos. Some talk of seizing the patents, but then they leave.” “No one in the government will do this by themselves,” she said. “Not unless they have a personal interest, like an HIV infected friend of something. This is Romania. Here the bureaucrats say: “What HIV people? We need to get rid of them.” (6) Needle Exchange Programs. Open Society Institute funds four harm reduction programs all in Bucharest. Some drug dependant people are afraid to make contact. The programs attempt to reach the people who are afraid through clients they already have. One of the programs focuses on prisoners, another sex workers. (17) Drug Treatment Programs/Availability. Detoxification programs are offered through some hospitals. But they are in very limited supply. (1) Summary of Situation. Substitution Therapies. Romania – 21 February 2002 - 7
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