Ray of hope in Bucharest

A newly completed pediatric cancer hospital in Bucharest (Romania) relies entirely on community funding. The hospital has opened a new door of hope for children with cancer in this country.

Treatment for children at the new pediatric cancer hospital in Bucharest. Photo: Romania-Insider

The project was initiated by Give Life, a member organization of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), with contributions from more than 350,000 individuals and nearly 8,000 companies. This is the first hospital in Romania to be built entirely with donations.

The 140-bed hospital includes oncology, hematology, surgery, intensive care and neurosurgery departments. It also has playrooms, a cinema, a recording studio and even a rooftop observatory. The hospital aims to provide comprehensive care, multidisciplinary treatment and a supportive environment for children and their families. Features such as a parent bed, a dedicated children’s space and a fully digitalised medical unit represent a quantum leap in healthcare standards in Romania.

Since the hospital opened, plans have been underway to build a second pediatric building, creating a comprehensive medical campus. This ongoing effort continues to rely on donations and support from donors and the Romanian community. More than just a hospital, Give Life wants to change the way health care is delivered, as well as the way cancer and serious illnesses are treated in Romania.

Give Life embarked on this ambitious project two years ago, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the work faced many challenges. The association had to raise funds to build the hospital, mobilize resources to support frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic, and distribute protective and medical equipment across the country. Meanwhile, Romania’s healthcare system was not in the best condition, lacking resources and with crumbling infrastructure.

Since 2015, Romania has seen several changes in the position of Health Minister due to prolonged political instability, which has severely affected the state health system. The latest figures from Eurostat show that Romania has the lowest average health spending per capita in the European Union (EU). Romania's health care system has faced various difficulties for many years, from insufficient funding to staff shortages as many doctors, nurses and assistants have had to emigrate to other EU member states. Clinics and emergency rooms are full, while there is a shortage of care workers. To ensure balance, Romania's health sector currently needs more than 30,000 new staff. Therefore, community efforts such as the newly built children's cancer hospital project are a ray of hope.

Give Life is currently fundraising for a new building to expand its facilities and improve the quality of treatment. The organization's goal is to transform the facility into a modern medical complex and improve the survival rate of children with cancer in Romania, which currently stands at 70%, closer to the EU average of 81%.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tia-sang-hy-vong-o-bucharest-post739320.html