Updates

Following the death of a pregnant woman in August 2023, who had been admitted to the hospital with bleeding and pain and left unattended overnight, Law 95/2006 on healthcare reform was amended by Law 159/2025. The amendment introduced an obligation for all public and private hospitals to install and maintain panic buttons or other alert systems in every inpatient ward, with alerts directed to the nurse on duty. The systems must be easily accessible to patients, allowing them to quickly signal medical emergencies or any imminent danger. Healthcare facilities must also ensure regular staff training and periodic testing of the alert systems. Also, hospitals are required to install video surveillance systems in the intensive care units, emergency departments, or units for critically ill cardiac patients, to enable continuous monitoring of medical activities and patients, while ensuring that patients’ privacy is not compromised. Recorded footage must be securely stored in accordance with high cybersecurity standards for a period of between 3 and 60 days and access to recordings must be permitted only to authorized personnel. Patients and healthcare personnel should be informed of the presence of surveillance cameras by displaying visible notices at the entrances to the monitored areas. The law is expected to come into force in six months, on 22 April 2026.