Jonathan J. Stillo
“Magic Mountains in Romania: Tuberculosis, Poverty, and the New Role of TB Sanatoria”
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Abstract
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In Romania, where one of the worst tuberculosis epidemics in Europe and Central Asia is raging on, there is a heated debate over the future of the country’s TB sanatoria, which unlike anywhere else in the world, are still a major part of TB control in that country. Far from a simple discussion of medical efficacy and efficiency, at the heart of this debate is the question of what supports, if any at all, are postsocialist citizens entitled to receive from their governments. In a region where Ukrainians are work tirelessly to qualify for Chernobyl benefits (Petryna 2002) and Georgian prisoners attempt to falsely test positive for TB in order to be relocated to TB colonies with more humane conditions (Koch 2006) I hope to examine the Romanian case of TB patients resisting TB treatment in order to remain institutionalized.
This exploratory research will use Romania’s sanatoria crisis as a means of tracing the connections between government decisions, entitlements and the new postsocialist order. By examining the situation at Moroeni Sanatorium an ancient and impoverished institution where more than one-third of patients are labeled “chronic” and not expected to ever leave or be cured. Doctors there suggest that the patients are choosing TB infection and institutionalization over the realties of homelessness and unemployment in this economically depressed region. Using the extended case method I hope to examine this new role alleged new role of sanatoria in Romania as well explore issues of entitlement in Romania today.
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