Advocacy for reducing discrimination against the Roma population from Romania in accessing the health services
This is an article presenting the project prepared by Sastipen – Roma Center for Health Policies, Hungary, given the subgrants under the ERGO sub-granting scheme 2024, funded by the EU
Roma people across Romania still face unequal treatment in healthcare settings, despite legislation protecting against discrimination. Through this project, Sastipen aimed to strengthen its long-standing advocacy work, to ensure that medical professionals and policymakers take anti-discrimination and antigypsyism laws seriously and apply them in practice, not just on paper.
Building Awareness Among Health Workers
A key part of the project involved training health professionals on the front lines of patient care. Two online seminars brought together 54 participants, including community nurses, health mediators, and medical assistants. These sessions focused on human rights, non-discrimination, and the harmful impact of bias in medical settings. Guest speakers, including experts from ERGO Network and the National Agency for Roma, helped to frame the issue and encouraged open discussion that made the meeting very impactful.
The second phase of the project involved direct engagement with national and local health authorities. In partnership with the National Institute of Public Health, Sastipen hosted a two-day training with 32 officials from the Ministry of Health and County Public Health Directorates. Participants reviewed case studies and collaborated to draft a working procedure aimed at preventing discrimination within public health units.
This procedure was further refined during a follow-up online workshop with 28 key stakeholders, including ministry representatives, hospital managers, and family doctors. By the end of the session, the document was finalised and submitted to the Ministry of Health.
Between July and October 2024, the team launched an advocacy campaign aimed at incorporating the non-discrimination procedure into national practice. High-level meetings with the Minister of Health and key officials led to a huge and successful breakthrough: the Ministry formally recognised Sastipen as a partner in managing the national health mediation programme, a first in Romania!
Sastipen also built a coalition with Roma and pro-Roma organisations across the country. A formal partnership was signed with the Roma Party ProEuropa to coordinate future action and monitor cases of discrimination.
Looking Ahead
By the end of the project, a working anti-discrimination procedure was developed, partnerships were created, and a new chapter of cooperation with health authorities had begun. The hope is that this model of collaboration, driven by grassroots expertise and formal recognition, can be replicated in other areas of Roma inclusion policy.
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