The Reality

Bucharest has ARAS, Matei Balș, Victor Babeș, and a visible (if small) gay community. Outside Bucharest, the picture is considerably more difficult. Romania is a large country with significant disparities between Bucharest and provincial cities, and the combination of social stigma and limited specialist resources means gay and bisexual men outside the capital face real challenges.

The principle throughout Romania: infectious disease hospitals (spitale de boli infecțioase) are the safest institutional option for HIV-related care, and private labs (Synevo, Regina Maria, MedLife) are available in major cities for discreet STI testing.

Cluj-Napoca

The second largest city and a student hub. Cluj has the best infrastructure outside Bucharest.

Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecțioase "Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor" Str. Gheorghe Marinescu 23, Cluj-Napoca Phone: 0264 596 622 The infectious diseases hospital for Transylvania. Has HIV care, PEP available at Camera de Gardă, and some capacity for PrEP referrals.

Private labs: Synevo and MedLife have branches in Cluj for discreet STI testing without hospital bureaucracy.

Cluj has a small active LGBTQ+ community (Asociația Accept Cluj / local groups) that may be able to advise on affirming practitioners.

Timișoara

Close to the Hungarian and Serbian borders — some residents access care in Budapest or Vienna for PrEP or specialist services.

Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecțioase și Pneumoftiziologie "Victor Babeș" Timișoara (Note: different hospital from the Bucharest Victor Babeș) Bulevardul Gheorghe Adam 13, Timișoara Phone: 0256 207 390 Infectious diseases hospital for western Romania. Camera de Gardă for PEP; infectious disease outpatient for PrEP enquiries.

Cross-border option: Budapest (Hungary) is roughly 3 hours by road. If you are accessing PrEP privately or want specialist care with less stigma, Budapest's infectious diseases infrastructure (Dél-pesti Centrumkórház / László Kórház) is an option.

Iași

The main city of Moldova (north-east Romania).

Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecțioase "Sf. Parascheva" Str. Octav Botez 2, Iași Phone: 0232 201 050 The main infectious diseases hospital for north-east Romania. Camera de Gardă for PEP. PrEP access through the HIV programme — contact in advance.

Brașov

Spitalul Clinic Județean de Urgență Brașov Calea Griviței 43, Brașov Phone: 0268 320 200 For PEP (Camera de Gardă). For PrEP and HIV specialist care, patients may be referred to Bucharest.

Constanța (Black Sea Coast)

Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecțioase Constanța Str. Sentinela 1, Constanța Phone: 0241 662 065 Camera de Gardă for PEP; HIV care outpatient.

For summer tourists on the Black Sea coast, this hospital covers PEP emergencies.

Home Testing

For gay and bisexual men in smaller cities or rural Romania, home testing for HIV is available:

  • HIV self-test kits (autotestul HIV) can be purchased online or at larger pharmacies — costs roughly 60–120 RON
  • Tests only for HIV; not a substitute for a full panel
  • For three-site bacterial swab testing, you need to physically attend a private lab in the nearest major city

Private lab chains with national presence (Synevo, Regina Maria, MedLife) have branches in most Romanian cities of any size — check their websites for the nearest location.

PrEP Outside Bucharest

PrEP is available through the national programme at the infectious diseases hospitals listed above, but provision is less well-organised than in Bucharest. Expect:

  • Longer waiting times for first appointments
  • Variable knowledge and willingness among provincial infectious disease doctors
  • Possible need to travel to Bucharest for initial setup, with follow-up managed locally

ARAS (in Bucharest) has national knowledge and may be able to advise on the current state of PrEP access in specific cities — worth calling before making the journey.

Emergency Numbers (All Romania)

Service Number Hours
Emergency services 112 24h
ARAS Bucharest (navigation) 021 252 43 70 Office hours
Matei Balș Bucharest (PEP reference) 021 201 09 80 24h

For PEP anywhere in Romania: go to the Camera de Gardă of the nearest Spital de Boli Infecțioase and say "Am nevoie de PEP pentru HIV."

See also: ARAS testing in Bucharest | PEP emergency