ASCUS Advocacy Improves Diagnostic Access for Homebound Patients in Romania | World Patients Alliance

13 March 2026 | Romania

Under the initiative “Ambasadorii pacienților cu nevoi speciale,” the Association for Safety and Quality in Healthcare Organizations (ASCUS) led an advocacy effort to improve access to diagnostic services for homebound patients.

Lecturer Daniela Buciu, PhD, President of ASCUS, highlighted a regulatory gap that permitted biological samples to be collected from patients’ homes but did not include their transportation to laboratories. This created a significant access barrier for patients unable to travel independently.

ASCUS submitted a policy proposal to Romania’s Ministry of Health requesting that sample transportation be included within home healthcare services. The proposal was accepted, resulting in a legislative amendment published in the Official Gazette. The revised regulation now explicitly covers both the collection and transportation of biological samples, supporting more equitable access and continuity of care for homebound patients.