RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

New healthcare insurance regulations

The Romanian Health Minister announces a new package of basic healthcare services as of next year.

, 14.10.2013, 13:19

Ever since the anti-communist revolution of 1989, few fields in Romania have been subject to so many and yet so disappointing changes as healthcare. Patients, doctors, the administrative staff and political decision-makers alike have plenty of reasons for discontent, from the low quality of healthcare services to outrageous cases malpractice, and from the shortage of medicines and equipment to corruption and incompetence. All these have prompted a westbound migration of both patients and healthcare staff. The patients who can afford it choose to get medical assistance abroad, whereas thousands of healthcare professionals have left the country to get better-paid jobs elsewhere in Europe.



Just like his predecessors, the current healthcare minister, Eugen Nicolaescu has already introduced a set of reforms, which are yet to yield results. In addition, on February the 1st next year a new package of basic services will be available, and the differences between the health care provided to members of the public insurance system and to non-members will be substantial. Eugen Nicolaescu explains: “For people without public healthcare insurance, there will be three major components: prevention, emergency care and national healthcare programmes. The insured will benefit from community assistance, family medical services and outpatient services. All three components include prevention services and current healthcare services.”



The minister added that patients with chronic illnesses would not have to pay the cost of medical tests. In villages and small towns, the ministry will try to reintroduce the so-called around-the-clock clinics, and the staff working there will be better paid. As the media noted, Eugen Nicolaescu initially promised that all Romanian citizens would benefit from the basic service package, whether or not they have healthcare insurance. But the lack of funds curbed the government’s generosity.



An economist by profession, Nicolaescu explained that much of the funding in the system is wasted. For instance, last year some 40% of the 4.4 million procedures performed in hospitals were provided for cases that did not require hospitalisation. The problem is that in-patient services are 18 times more expensive than the corresponding outpatient treatment. The minister expressed his confidence that the new package of basic services will be implemented successfully and in due time. Otherwise, Eugen Nicolaescu added, “in principle I’d have no business running this ministry any longer.”


(Photo: pixabay@Engin_Akyurt)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Elections in Moldova (Photo: Radio Chișinău)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Foto: Baza 71 Aeriană / MApn
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Foto: pixabay.com
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Challenges of an ageing population

Romanians are getting fewer and older.   The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to...

Challenges of an ageing population
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Romania sees rising public debt levels

Government debt rose in July to over 876 billion lei (that’s around 175 billion euros), from 860 billion lei in the previous month, according to...

Romania sees rising public debt levels
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

An unusual electoral debate, in form, but predictable in content, had as protagonists, on Sunday, the two remaining candidates in the presidential...

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova
Today in the News Friday, 25 October 2024

The presidential campaign begins

  Romania saw the start of the campaign for the first round of the presidential election on Friday. The campaign ends at 7 am on November 23....

The presidential campaign begins

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company