The sums collected through the public health insurance system do not cover the basic medical service package. Authorities are not considering increasing health insurance contributions, and must identify other financing sources, Cepoi said.
A solution would be ensuring financing for the entire emergency system from the state budget, he added. Currently, the state budget covers only emergency room expenses and resident physician spending, said Cepoi.
According to the minister, one of the major problems the Romanian emergency healthcare system is facing is the overburdening of emergency rooms.
Deputy secretary of state Raed Arafat said 3.28 million people came to emergency rooms in 2011, of whom 28% were admitted to hospital. Arafat added that probably 15% of those who went there needed other medical services.