Three Golden Rules
1. Start at ARAS — They Know the System ARAS (Str. Candiano Popescu 26A, Sector 4, Bucharest; aras.ro; 021 252 43 70) is the central NGO for HIV prevention and sexual health for gay and bisexual men in Romania. Free, anonymous rapid testing, PrEP navigation, psychosocial support, referrals into the hospital system, and harm reduction. Wherever you are starting from — testing, PrEP, post-diagnosis support — ARAS is the first call.
2. Matei Balș Is the Clinical Hub The Institutul Național de Boli Infecțioase "Prof. Dr. Matei Balș" (Str. Dr. Calistrat Grozovici 1, Sector 2; 021 201 09 80) is Romania's national infectious diseases reference hospital. PrEP is dispensed here. PEP is available at the Camera de Gardă 24 hours. ARAS navigators will guide you through the process, which involves paperwork and referrals.
3. PEP Is Free at Camera de Gardă — Go Within 72 Hours For PEP after a potential HIV exposure, go directly to Matei Balș Camera de Gardă (or Victor Babeș, Mihai Bravu 281, as a second option). Say: "Am nevoie de PEP pentru HIV." PEP is free for insured patients and generally available without charge for tourists too. Do not wait — the 72-hour window is hard.
General Education
- HIV facts and transmission
- STI landscape — what's actually circulating
- Testing protocol — why three sites matter
- How PrEP works
- PEP — emergency HIV prevention
- Prevention stack — layering your tools
- Vaccines for gay and bisexual men
- Internalised shame and minority stress
- Chemsex safety
- GHB and GBL — specific risks
- DoxyPEP — bacterial STI prevention
- Finding an affirming doctor
Romania-Specific Guides
Testing
Prevention
- PrEP in Romania — national programme via Matei Balș
- Vaccines — Mpox, Hep A/B, HPV
- DoxyPEP in Romania
Emergency
Living in Romania
- Mental health — ACCEPT, ARAS, crisis lines
- Chemsex — harm reduction and support
- Outside Bucharest — Cluj, Timișoara, Iași and more
- Romanian vocabulary — healthcare terms and phrases
Emergency Contacts
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency services | 112 | 24h |
| Matei Balș Camera de Gardă (PEP) | 021 201 09 80 | 24h |
| Victor Babeș Camera de Gardă (PEP) | 021 318 85 70 | 24h |
| ARAS Checkpoint | 021 252 43 70 | Office hours (check aras.ro) |
| ACCEPT Romania | 021 252 28 14 | Office hours |
| Telefonul Vieții (crisis line) | 0800 800 678 | 24h, free |
The Context
Romania has one of the highest HIV rates in the EU — a legacy of the late 1980s institutional outbreak and ongoing transmission in several population groups. This means infectious disease hospitals are well-resourced for HIV care, and the national PrEP programme exists and functions.
The social environment for gay and bisexual men is difficult by western European standards. Stigma is high, LGBTQ+ rights are limited, and healthcare staff outside specialist infectious disease settings may be unsympathetic. ARAS exists specifically to bridge this gap — they are the safest and most effective first port of call for any sexual health question.