Hundreds of Romanian teens face delayed scoliosis surgery as waiting lists swell

In Radomirești, Olt, a grandmother discovered her 14-year-old granddaughter’s advanced scoliosis during a bathroom visit; doctors in Bucharest said surgery is needed but cannot be performed before 2027, when it may be too late. Pediatric orthopaedic surgeon Gheorghe Ciobanu says he has recently diagnosed several children requiring urgent intervention, but the public system reimburses only ten physiotherapy sessions a year, far below the recommended frequency.

Families travel up to 30 kilometres for treatment, often paying extra fees, while a modest state allowance covers little of the cost. Vasile Barbu, head of the National Association for Patient Protection, highlights massive waiting lists and a lack of specialised units as the main obstacles. Options such as treatment abroad or private surgery exist but are financially out of reach for most, leaving many adolescents at risk of worsening health and reduced life expectancy.