The persons suffering from tuberculosis, cancer or HIV/AIDS who receive treatment for a long period of time could be entitled to cold-month allowances. Such a legislative initiative was put forward by MP Valentina Buliga, ex-minister of social protection, IPN reports.

The informative note to the bill says that the number of those suffering from TB, cancer and HIV/AIDS raises annually and these people can receive treatment for periods of up to a year. Social welfare is provided only to those who are medically insured and to those with disability degrees. The medically uninsured persons are not covered by the legislation and do not have access to different social services and benefits.

The MP said the bill is aimed at enabling the persons under long treatment to apply for cold-month allowances until they get a disability degree. Of the over 4,600 persons suffering from tuberculosis, more than 3,000 are not provided with social welfare. Of those with cancer and HIV/AIDS, about 3,000 are not socially insured.

The money for the purpose is to be provided from the state budget, through the Social Assistance program.