Romanian service brings cancer treatment to children’s homes
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In Romania, the Dăruiește Aripi association and partner Zentiva România are bringing parts of cancer treatment into the homes of children with the disease.
Mara, a young patient from Urziceni, now receives blood draws at home from a nurse, avoiding long trips to the hospital and reducing her fear. Before this service, Mara underwent surgeries and spent time in intensive care, initially reacting with fear to any medical personnel.
The program began in 2018 and extends the care provided by oncology teams beyond hospital walls. A nurse visits patients at home to collect samples and administer medication, sharing information with the family and the child’s doctor through a digital platform called DARA. The service currently reaches families in ten Romanian counties, offering free care and reducing the disruption to daily life.
Between 2020 and September 2023, the program completed 3,800 home visits and performed over 8,000 tests, saving families approximately 205,000 kilometers of travel and preventing over 6,000 days of hospitalisation. Dăruiește Aripi is also collaborating with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to assess the program’s effectiveness and is contributing to a national cancer plan, hoping to ensure access to care regardless of a patient’s location.
