The European Commission, in collaboration with the OECD and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, has launched the 2025 edition of the “State of Health in the EU” series.

The Country Health Profiles and the Synthesis Report provide concise and policy-relevant insights for all 27 EU Member States, plus Iceland and Norway.

According to the report, life expectancy in Romania is 76.6 years, over 5 years below the EU average, and the differences between men and women remain significant. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer continue to be the main causes of mortality, and behavioral and environmental factors, such as high alcohol consumption and lack of physical activity, contribute to approximately a third of deaths.

Regarding medicines, the document shows that although Romania spends less than the EU average on medicines, the cost burden on patients is high, which affects access to innovative treatments, and highlights the need for a more balanced pharmaceutical policy, which would ensure both the sustainability of the system and patients’ access to essential medicines.