Women who were operated for breast cancer and underwent mastectomy wait for the prostheses promised by the authorities for several months. In February, the Oncological Institute announced that it bought 1,600 prostheses. The money was allocated by the National Health Insurance Company. Shortly afterward, women patients complained that they cannot find prostheses of the necessary size. Some of the women can wait for prostheses for over half a year.

To an inquiry made by IPN News Agency, persons in charge of the Oncological Institute responded that they are waiting for a new consignment of prostheses. An order was placed only after the previous stock was used up.

Vice director of the Consultative Diagnostic Center of the Oncological Institute Veronica Ciobanu said breast exo-prosthesis are issued by the Medical Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Section. After a specialist is consulted, the patient is examined by the rehabilitologist, who determines the size, and the woman is issued with an individual breast prosthesis. There is a register of prostheses that are distributed according to the waiting list.

“For the first time this year, in accordance with the methodological norms for implementing the Common Mandatory Health Insurance Program, there were uniformly issued 1,600 exo-prosthesis of different sizes. The same issuing and distribution method will used in the future to ensure the rehabilitation of patients with malignant breast tumors,” stated Veronica Ciobanu.

Breast cancer tops the list of reproductive cancers in women and is the second leading cause of death after colorectal cancer. About 1,100 new cases of breast cancer are registered annually. Approximately 60% of the women with breast cancer need radical mastectomy and then breast exo-prostheses in rehabilitation treatment.