​Per capita spending on healthcare in Romania was the lowest in the EU in 2021, according to the 2023 Romania Profile recently published by the European Commission.

With a value of 1,663 euros, total health care expenditure per capita in Romania was less than half of the EU average in 2021. Current healthcare spending was 6.5% of Romania’s GDP, of which nearly 80% came from public sources, the report said. With a slight increase from the previous report, at 75.3 years, Romanians’ life expectancy remains at the bottom of the European rankings, with only Bulgarians and Latvians having a lower life expectancy.

While the state of one’s own health and the health of the family is the main source of concern for Romanians (indicates the INSCOP survey published at the end of September), 8 percent more than the rise in prices, decision-makers are currently discussing the budget , allocated to health care for 2024, a budget proposal that currently does not reflect the real needs of Romanian patients.

From the analysis of the draft law on the state budget for 2024, as well as from the experience of previous years, especially in 2023, which was affected by numerous violations in the financing of medicines and medical services, it follows that it does not reflect the real needs of the health care system, which has negative consequences for both the system and patients in Romania.

“Lack of investment in health generates significant economic losses for both the population and the national economy. Adequately funding the health care system is not only about spending, but also an investment in the health and future of society with $2 in benefits, up to $4 earned for every dollar invested in health care,” said Dan Zaharescu, executive director of the Romanian Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (ARPIM).

According to ARPIM, the health budget is more than a revenue and expenditure presentation tool, it is a strategic basis for ensuring the sustainability of the health care system, setting key funding targets and building public authorities’ funding commitments intended health policies and strategies in program documents at the national and European levels, which positively affects access to health care services and indicators of the health status of the population of Romania.

ARPIM observations

• The time allotted for the process of transparency of decision-making did not allow for a process of consultation and participation, in accordance with the current legislation, according to Law 52/2003 on transparency of decision-making in public administration, reissued in 2013. stakeholders in the development of budget proposals is a fundamental element in its completion, the budget allocated to health care must be consistent with the current and future realities and needs of the Romanian health care system and Romanian patients.
• Even if the state authorities declare health as a key area of ​​social development, in fact, in the draft budget for 2024, expenditures in the health care system are understated in order to match the revenues, which are limited by the reduced volume of subsidy balancing programs, which does not reflect the priority of this important ​areas through adequate funding.
• In addition, according to calculations made by ARPIM, health care financing from public sources is estimated at 4.5% of GDP, unchanged from the projected performance in 2023. In absolute terms, the Romanian healthcare system is underfunded and requires additional measures to increase current and future funding. to meet the real needs of patients.
• Under these conditions, ARPIM believes that inadequate and underfunded health care sector will jeopardize the implementation of the medium-term strategic priorities and principles announced by the Ministry of Health in the final document on the medium-term budget policy and the program of the main credit authorities for 2024 and beyond 2025-2027 years.

Promises of adequate allocations

The Romanian Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (ARPIM) organized at the end of November the event “Romanian Health between Hopes, Challenges, Investments and Innovations: A European Vision”, through which it proposed to launch some important topics for discussion, such as: Health as investment: sustainable financing of health care; The European pharmaceutical package: how it will affect the system of patient access to treatment in Romania; Innovations save lives: which drugs of the new generation will change the treatment paradigm in the near future; Romanian patient’s voice for European health; Strategic partnership for the health of Romanians.

The event was attended, in particular, by the Minister of Health – Prof. Dr. Alexandru Rafila, Minister of Finance – Marcel Bolosh, President of ANMDMR – Dr. Pharm. Rezvan Prisada, representatives of the European Parliament, representatives of the Romanian Parliament, important voices from the world of medicine and patients.

“Undoubtedly, the investments and amounts of funds that will be allocated for health care are investments in the quality of the medical act, because we all want to have the best quality services. By investing in health care and education, we can provide modern services,” said Minister of Finance Marcel Bolosh, who emphasized that in 2024, adequate financing of health care will be a government priority.