Leave and Allowance for Caring for Oncology Patients – Rights and Procedures

The law provides important support to individuals who must accompany an adult oncology patient to surgical interventions or treatments. This support consists of granting a special medical leave, accompanied by an allowance, as well as access to psychological counseling services.

1. Who can benefit

The insured person who, with the patient’s consent, accompanies them to:

• surgical interventions;
• treatments prescribed by the specialist physician.

The patient may designate only one person for each intervention or treatment.

2. Duration of the leave

Maximum of 45 calendar days per year, for one patient.

It may be granted in installments, depending on medical needs.

3. Additional benefits

Both the beneficiary of the leave and the patient are entitled, each year, to:

• at least one clinical psychological assessment session;
• at least five clinical psychological counseling sessions.

Patients with hearing impairments or deafblindness are also entitled to an authorized interpreter.

4. How it is granted

In Romania: based on the medical leave certificate issued by the specialist physician.

Abroad: if treatment takes place in the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or other states, leave is granted based on translated and notarized medical documents, submitted to the health insurance fund within 15 days of return.

Documents may be submitted in paper or electronic format, and electronic certificates must be signed with a qualified digital signature.

5. Value of the allowance

The allowance amounts to 85% of the calculation base (the average of gross monthly income from the last 6 months of the 12 months that make up the insurance contribution period, up to the limit of 12 national gross minimum wages per month, which form the basis for the labor insurance contribution).

Payment is made in full from the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund.

Psychological counseling sessions are also covered from the same fund, in accordance with the Framework Contract.

Conclusion

This type of leave represents an important step in supporting oncology patients and their caregivers. The procedure requires medical documents and compliance with the deadlines provided by law, and failure to understand the details may lead to losing the right to the allowance. For safety, it is recommended to consult a lawyer or a specialist in labor and health legislation.