Military management in some of Romania’s hospitals

Temporary military management has been assigned to several hospitals from Romania due to errors committed by civilian managers in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Leyla Cheamil, 09.04.2020, 13:50

After the Emergency County Hospital in Deva (in the west) became a hotbed of coronavirus infection, the central authorities decided that the best solution for the hospital’s good functioning is the assignment of military management to that medical unit. The health minister Nelu Tataru visited the hospital whose former management had resigned because they could not deal with the situation. Nelu Tataru said the ministry officials will analyze the situation of the medical and auxiliary staff that are now granting assistance to the hospitalized patients, and will set up the return-to-work protocol for the other employees of the hospital, who are in self isolation.

Nelu Tataru: “There are no protocols in place at present at the Deva hospital. We need to assess the situation of self-isolated personnel, because self-isolation in this case was a personal option. There have been no epidemiological investigations conducted by the Public Health Directorate in this case. We intend to test the entire medical staff. Those found healthy and able to work will have to continue working, of course upon their consent, but we’ll apply a semi — institutionalization protocol, in the sense that those who work in the hospital will be accommodated in hotels, and will return to work the next day. The hospital now has all the necessary equipment, medicines and sanitary materials.”

The health minister estimated that, after 3 or 4 weeks, they can reassign civilian management to the hospital, that will have to take over and observe all the conditions set under the military management. The hospital is Deva is Romania’s second hospital where a temporary military management was assigned, after the County Hospital in Suceava (northeast), where the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths had increased alarmingly.

According to the health minister, the ongoing outbreak investigations have been stopped halfway through, and consequently Romania had community spread of the virus, which was extensive and aggressive. Minister Tataru also added that given the purchase of sanitary, protective materials, and the people’s home isolation, these hotbeds should be limited. Following the worsening of the situation in Suceava, this city and 8 surrounding communes were quarantined in late March.

In another development, the Military Hospital in Focsani (east), which had been closed down at the end of March, after scores of people were confirmed with the new coronavirus infection, has partially resumed its activity. The hospital is expected to operate at full capacity by the end of the week. According to the Medical Department of the National Defense Ministry, action has been taken to allow the hospital to start receiving patients again. (translation by L. Simion)