The prevalence of anemia among children last year was 226.3 cases per 10,000 children, which is seven times higher than among grownups. This is due to the fact that the adults, who go to the doctor more rarely, often do not know their anemic status. The data were presented in a meeting of the Council for Coordinating the National Program for Reducing Diseases caused by Deficiency of Iron and Folic Acid until 2017, IPN reports.

The family doctors prescribe compensated drugs that contain iron and folic acid to children under 18 and to pregnant women.

More than 39,000 people benefitted from anemia treatment and prophylaxis based on mandatory health insurance policies last year. Overall, the doctors issued more than 75,000 prescriptions for compensated drugs, to the value of about 5.3 million lei. The pregnant women who received iron preparations represented 94.1%, while those who received folic acid – 81.1%.

In the course of 2015, there were imported 147.6 tonnes of flour fortified with iron and folic acid, which is less than 1% of the total quantity of over 35,000 tonnes. However, the national program provides that the whole quantity of flour in the country should be fortified with iron and folic acid at all the companies operating in food industry.

In 2015, the prevalence of anemia was 70.3 cases per 10,000 people, including 32.1 in adults and 226.3 in children.