PrEP in Romania: The National Programme

The Short Version

PrEP is available in Romania through a national HIV prevention programme and is free (or very low cost) for eligible patients at specialist infectious disease hospitals. Access requires a specialist assessment at an approved centre — Matei Balș or Victor Babeș in Bucharest are the main sites. ARAS is the most efficient entry point for navigating the programme.

Status

Romania has one of the highest HIV rates in the EU and a long-standing national HIV programme. PrEP has been available within this programme at infectious disease hospitals. The medication is dispensed free or at low cost for eligible patients.

The programme is not as administratively streamlined as in some western European countries — paperwork, referrals, and waiting times are real. ARAS staff have the most current knowledge of how the process works in practice.

Approved Centres in Bucharest

Institutul Național de Boli Infecțioase "Prof. Dr. Matei Balș" Str. Dr. Calistrat Grozovici 1, Sector 2, Bucharest Phone: 021 201 09 80 This is the primary national reference hospital for infectious diseases and the main PrEP prescribing centre in Bucharest. The Pavilion Consultații (Outpatient Pavilion) is where PrEP consultations take place.

Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecțioase și Tropicale "Victor Babeș" Mihai Bravu 281, Sector 3, Bucharest Phone: 021 318 85 70 / 021 318 85 65 The second major infectious diseases hospital in Bucharest; also participates in the PrEP programme.

The Process Step by Step

Step 1 — Start at ARAS

ARAS (aras.ro / 021 252 43 70) is the most practical entry point. Staff know the current state of the programme, can assess your eligibility, run pre-PrEP tests, and write a referral or directly contact the hospital team. ARAS referrals carry weight and can smooth the hospital process.

Step 2 — Pre-PrEP Tests

Before starting PrEP you will need:

HIV test (negative result required)
Creatinine / kidney function
Hepatitis B status
Syphilis and STI screen
Pregnancy test if applicable

ARAS or the hospital can run these.

Step 3 — Specialist Appointment

An infectious disease doctor at Matei Balș or Victor Babeș assesses you and prescribes PrEP. Bring all your test results and any ARAS documentation.

Step 4 — Dispensing

PrEP is collected from the hospital pharmacy. Follow-up appointments are every 3 months for monitoring bloods (creatinine, HIV, STIs).

What to Request at Three-Month Follow-Ups

At every follow-up, ask specifically for:

HIV test
Creatinine / kidney function
Syphilis test
Gonorrhoea and chlamydia swabs from three sites: throat (exsudat faringian), rectum (exsudat anal), and urethra (exsudat uretral)

The default may be blood only — be explicit about needing the three-site swab panel.

If You Cannot Access the Programme

If waiting times are long, ARAS navigators are dealing with a backlog, or you are not yet eligible for the programme:

Generic PrEP from private prescription: Some private doctors in Bucharest can prescribe tenofovir/emtricitabine on a private basis. Cost is roughly 150–300 RON/month for generics at private pharmacies. Regina Maria or MedLife GPs may be willing to prescribe with your HIV-negative test results.
Online pharmacies in EU countries: Legal in principle for EU residents to obtain PrEP from another EU member state on a valid prescription — but requires an initial prescription from a Romanian or EU doctor.

ARAS can advise on current options.

On-Demand PrEP

The 2+1+1 on-demand protocol is recognised in Romania and some Matei Balș or Victor Babeș doctors will prescribe it. If you prefer on-demand, tell your specialist — it significantly reduces pill count and monitoring burden is the same.

Practical Summary

Free, via national programme. Start with ARAS for navigation. Prescription and dispensing at Matei Balș or Victor Babeș. Three-month follow-ups required. Ask specifically for three-site swab testing at every visit.