Working as a cancer survivor in Romania: an overview of the statutory policies for return to work

• Published in: Disability and rehabilitation 2020-09, Vol.42 (19), p.2679-2686
• Main Authors: Popa, Adela Elena, Popa, Radu-Ioan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: cancer policy; Cancer rehabilitation; cancer survivor; document analysis; return to work
• ISSN: 0963-8288; 1464-5165
• DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1577498

Purpose: Over the last several years, the number of working-age patients with cancer in Europe and Romania has consistently increased. Considerable efforts are made to bring cancer survivors back to the workforce, generating remarkable individual and societal benefits. Legislation and policies are essential factors in achieving this goal. The aim of the present article is to analyze the Romanian statutory policies for returning to work after cancer. Methods: A comprehensive search using key terms was carried out on the websites of the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Health and also within the Romanian Official Gazette, which is the official national paper-based repository of legal documents. Nine work-related policy documents were found, and recurrent themes were identified. Within these themes, the authors synthetized the information on provisions, actors, structures, processes and responsibilities. Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) General and cancer-specific provisions; (2) The cancer survivor's journey in relation to work; and (3) Work adjustments. The policies contain no measures for incentivising return to work. The mechanisms for collaboration and coordination among stakeholders are not described in the policies. Conclusions: The current policies put an emphasis on compensation but fail to encompass activation measures. Considering that, for several components of the return to work process, the general principles are already stated in the law, it is vital to further develop the policies in the sense of specifying the procedures, roles and responsibilities for the stakeholders involved. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Being diagnosed with cancer can result in long-term disability and considerable difficulties to reenter the labor market which policy makers need to address. The legislation should focus on providing work-related activities and physical and vocational rehabilitation services to cancer survivors, as measures for an active labor market. The policy should provide vocational rehabilitation and work-related support groups for working-age patients with cancer, starting at the end of the first year of invalidity pension, thus preparing the transition back to the labor market. There is a pressing need to have a country-specific legislation for employers, as they have a tremendous impact on the return to work process.