The Romanian healthcare system is being prepared for a new major reform, after six years from the promulgation of the Hospital Law. According to the project elaborated by the Presidential Commission for Review and Elaboration of Projects in the Healthcare System, privatization of hospitals and the introduction of private insurance are two of the most important measures considered.
The draft law proposes the abolition of County Health Insurance Houses – Case judetene de asigurari – thus allowing private insurers, who will have to convince patients to enroll on their lists, to enter the market. In turn the hospitals will be transformed into foundations, and doctors will be paid differently. These are some of the provisions of the new Health Law, which should take effect next year. How is this project seen and how these decisions will affect the future health system?  are questions that health policy makers in Iasi try to answer.
Introduction of private insurance will lead to the disappearance of the current County Health Insurance Agencies. Only large health insurance companies will enter the market, companies with a turnover of at least one billion euros.
The Ministry of Health claims that the health system needs diversification of financing mechanisms to attract private companies to the funding cycle, this meaning the introduction of private health insurance.
The heads of the County Health Insurance Agency in Iasi are not afraid that their unit will be abolished. They even encourage the project. “The proposal of Professor Cristian Vladescu, head of the Presidential Commission for Review and Elaboration of Projects in the Healthcare System, is to introduce a competitive private money management of the County Health Insurance Agency. The money is given in administration to the private insurance companies. The project in its present form is not bad, but it remains to be seen if the legislative act will be promulgated†said dr. Iulian Serban, the president of the CJAS.
The heads of the Public Health Department (DSP) said that the new system is not without risk and that no one can guarantee that they will close all channels through which money is flowing in the system. “The health system has entered into a standstill, and this shows that the solutions applied have failed. For this reason this project was initiated, which would reform the health system from scratch. However, without a proper risk analysis, this project can fail. The first risk is that it can’t be implemented due to lack of funding insurers in the health system. Also, there is a risk that the insured can’t afford to pay in addition to the basic health care a private insurance. In Iasi, only 32% of the population pays health insurance,†said Dr. Basil Cepoi, director of DSP.
Public hospitals will be transformed into foundations, they will have the same owners but the health care staff and professionals will be paid differently, depending on performance. As seen in the eyes of Iasi health officials and even some managers of hospitals. “Currently, public hospitals, both those related to the Ministry of Health and the local authorities have fixed salary scales this means that good doctors can’t be paid better. Doctors will negotiate salaries separately, and those who bring more money to the hospital will also be paid better. It will not be like it is now, every doctor is paid the same and is considered a civil servant. Such models work in Poland, the Baltic States or in Great Britainâ€, added Dr. Cepoi.
Hospital managers hope that this reform will enable them to start hiring, thus solving the problem of staff shortages. “Most hospitals are facing a big shortage of staff. If the project will be implemented, hospitals can start hiring and giving doctors better wagesâ€, said Ioan Barliba, manager of the “Sf. Spiridon†hospital
It remains to be seen if the new law will solve the fundamental problems of the Romanian healthcare system.
What do you think?
Source of the article here: http://www.evenimentul.ro/articol/sanatatea-va-fi-schimbata-din-temelii.html
