E/C.12/ROU/CO/3-5 about reports that, upon eviction, some families with children were left without adequate alternative housing, compensation and protection (art. 11). The Committee urges the State party to amend its national legislation to provide a minimum degree of security of tenure for persons living in informal settlements, and to adopt legislation to ensure that evictions are carried out in compliance with international human rights standards, and that remedies are effectively provided to those affected by eviction orders. In particular, the State party should prevent forced evictions of Roma from taking place until the Roma concerned have been consulted, afforded due process guarantees and provided with alternative accommodation or compensation enabling them to acquire adequate accommodation. The Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 7 (1997) on forced evictions. Water and sanitation 20. The Committee notes with concern that access to safe drinking water is insufficient, particularly in rural areas where only one third of the population has access to a centralized drinking water supply. The Committee is also concerned at the poor access to adequate sewage and sanitation systems in rural areas and informal settlements, and at deficiencies in sewage treatments, which are causing water pollution (arts. 11 and 12). The Committee calls upon the State party to intensify its efforts to ensure universal access to safe drinking water, as well as access to adequate sewage and sanitation facilities, particularly in rural areas and for the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups. The Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 15 (2002) on the right to water and its statement on the right to sanitation (E/C.12/2010/1). Health-care system 21. The Committee is concerned that Romania has a low life expectancy at birth, and very high infant and maternal mortality rates. It is also concerned about the inequalities in terms of access to and quality of health services, especially in rural and remote areas and for disadvantaged and marginalized groups, and regrets that the decentralization process has led to a decrease in the number of Roma Health Mediators. Furthermore, cases of alleged segregation of Roma patients in sub-standard hospital wards and negligent treatment of those patients are of particular concern to the Committee. The Committee is further concerned that the practice of payments of non-official fees persists, despite measures taken to combat corruption (art. 12). The Committee calls on the State party to continue health sector reforms and substantially increase funds allocated to public health. It recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to ensure de facto access to affordable, good quality and timely health care and medical treatment for all segments of the population, including persons living in rural and remote areas, as well as disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups. In order to curb infant and maternal mortality, the State party should thoroughly assess the causes of all cases of mortality and develop specific and adapted strategies in that regard. The number of community nurses and Roma Health Mediators should be increased and all cases of discrimination and segregation of patients should be severely punished. The Committee also calls on the State party to take the necessary measures to fight corruption in the health sector so that nonofficial fees are not collected from patients. 7