Page 4 - THE ROMANIAN HEALTH CARE

Executive summary

This report analyses the Romanian health care sector, the commercial opportunities and
possibilities for cooperation at a governmental and institutional level. It was found that:

The Romanian economic and political landscape have risks and opportunities. The economy is

growing at a fast pace, a middle class with disposable income is developing. Economic growth

is mainly consumption based for a healthy economic development more investment is
needed. Political instability is a risk.

The Romanian people have a low health status. The life expectancy at birth is among the

lowest in the EU. Romanians die mostly from cardiovascular diseases, compared to the EU

population. Risk factors are a poor diet, high fat consumption, smoking, alcohol consumption

and little exercise.

The Romanian healthcare system performs poorly. The health system is not capable of

generation more favourable health outcomes for its people. An obvious reason is the

relatively low government budget for healthcare. Out of pocket expenses on medical goods

and services are relatively high, indicating a lower level of public sector services. Doctors

emigrate often to other EU countries. Healthcare services are relatively good in the urban

areas, at the country side the people are underserved.

Romanian medical education is good, scientific research and R&D are very basic. Romanian

medical students are among the best in the country due to a tough selection exam. Scientific

research is hardly done at universities, mainly at institutes of the Romanian Academy of

Sciences. Funding for research is limited both from Romanian sources and international

sources. Research and Development is done at pharmaceutical companies and hospitals.

Three viable bio-medical research clusters exist. Cooperation between universities and

business is limited.

Possibilities for cooperation at a governmental and institutional level are in the field of health

economics, health technology assessment, public health. Connecting Romanian scientific

research and R&D to EU partners.

Commercial opportunities are mainly in the sales of medicines and medical devices. Romania

has a relatively low domestic medicine production. A lot of medicines have to be imported.

Consumption of medicines is below that in European countries. The distribution of medicines

is the largest private healthcare sector. The private hospital sector is very dynamic, but
operates on limited profitability. In the public sector the development of 3 new hospitals is

announced, the most concrete plan is for a regional hospital near Cluj-Napoca.

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