We are not equal in the face of diseases: who are the Romanians who will not pay a surcharge on sick leave

Politicians have done their calculations and decided that we are not equal in the face of diseases. More precisely, PSD and PNL are working on an emergency ordinance that tries to eliminate the overtaxation of sick leave only in the case of certain patients.

Being sick in Romania is probably the worst thing that can happen to you. In a country where we don’t have enough doctors, and hospitals, due to lack of money, are at risk of closing, in a country where the medical system works almost in emergency mode, patients still have to face one shortcoming: they are obliged to pay 10% health contributions from the allowance received while on sick leave.

We are talking about the so-called “sickness tax” which was adopted by the Government in December last year and which began to produce its effects in January of this year. Through this tax, elected officials tried to stop the phenomenon of illegally granted medical leaves and bring more money to the state budget.

“Illness tax”, eliminated only for certain categories of patients

Obviously, the reactions from patient associations were among the most vehement, the decision was harshly criticized, and society’s pressure weighed more and more in the electoral calculations of the elected officials. Thus, since the beginning of the year, the Government has promised to eliminate taxation for everyone, regardless of the condition. But three months have already passed and nothing has happened. On the contrary! The decision to eliminate the tax, which had initially passed the Senate, got stuck not on the table of the Chamber of Deputies, but in an obscure drawer, where it lies to this day. The reason? “They did not want to change this law from the beginning“, Radu Gănescu, president of the Coalition of Organizations of Patients with Chronic Diseases, told “Adevărul”. Therefore, the politicians changed their minds again and came up with another proposal: the partial elimination of taxation. Concretely, at this moment they are working on an Emergency Ordinance by which the sickness tax, the 10% of the allowance, will be eliminated only in the case of oncological patients, pregnant women and mothers who are on leave to take care of the child.

Marcel Boloș, Minister of Finance, declared that “the GEO project that we have in the Parliament is following its natural course. These exceptions that were discussed regarding oncological diseases, those regarding maternity leaves, as well as child care, will be exempted here. We will propose exemption from contribution to CASS. Let’s see the form in which it will be approved by the Parliament and there the last amendments are made. It clears up. We were not against the exemption for oncological diseases or maternity leave allowances, care for sick children”.

The patients’ voice: An even greater injustice

Radu Gănescu, the president of the Coalition of Organizations of Patients with Chronic Diseases, told us that the disease tax is an insult to all patients in Romania. “We were all considered thieves. If someone steals, it doesn’t mean we are all the same. We are talking about a minority that, indeed, must answer to the law. But it’s a long way from here to reaching everyone’s pocket. That’s not possible! A patient needs sick leave to treat his health. It’s not a fad or a luxury. That there is a black market in sick leave given for made up illnesses, yes, I can’t argue with that. But the authorities should strictly tax those who break the law, not all of us. I believe that patients are charged, in fact, for the impotence of the Government to control the phenomenon of granting a medical leaves“.

In the new version proposed, the disease tax divides society even more, becoming for some a mummy, for others a plague. “Let’s not forget that in Romania there are several categories of patients, not only oncological ones. And who also have the same rights. Or should have. Why aren’t they treated the same? Why are there preferences? Because the governors made their election campaign on the backs of cancer patients. Who are they to decide which patients are sicker or less sick? How do you make such a comparison?”asks Radu Gănescu rhetorically.

And Cezar Irimia, the president of the Federation of Associations of Cancer Patients, is of the same opinion: the disease tax applied only to certain categories of patients is profoundly discriminatory. “It is discrimination against other patients. It is not normal for one category to be favored over others. It seems to me that this is an even greater injustice. All patients should benefit from this tax exemption“, he told us.

The 10% taxation of sick leave, says Cezar Irimia, “it is also against Law 46 of the patient’s rights. That is, for a man temporarily unable to work to be taxed on medical leave that is not full anyway, but only receives a percentage of the net salary… it is not normal, it is not fair”.