These recommendations follow a study on telemedicine services provided in Romania.
Telemedicine was introduced in Romania’s public system in 2018 through pilot projects, and in the private system in 2019, significantly expanding nationally during the Covid-19 pandemic. The most requested specialties for telemedicine included diabetes, nutrition and metabolic diseases, family medicine, psychology, occupational medicine, psychiatry, allergology and clinical immunology, endocrinology, and rheumatology.
Following the end of the state of alert, remote consultations were restricted to chronic conditions, diseases with epidemic potential requiring isolation, and services provided by psychologists and speech therapists, leading to a sharp decline in telemedicine consultations.
In light of these developments, the Competition Council recommends reassessing the settlement system to broaden the types of telemedicine consultations eligible for reimbursement. This measure would benefit both patients and the healthcare system by saving time and costs associated with travel and reducing congestion in waiting areas.
Another recommendation is to implement a national integrated platform allowing doctors to access patient test results, accessible to specialists in both public and private healthcare systems while adhering to data protection regulations.
Recognizing limited access to medical services in rural areas, the competition authority suggests deploying telemedicine terminals in localities without public medical services. Patients could schedule telephone appointments to consult with general practitioners, guiding them through subsequent medical investigations or treatment steps.
In regions where only specific medical services are available and patients require specialist consultations feasible via telemedicine, the authority proposes implementing a national program. This would equip family doctor offices or local medical centers with necessary technical infrastructure to facilitate easier patient access to consultations.
Additionally, the competition authority advocates defining minimum standards to uphold the quality of medical care provided through telemedicine services. It recommends periodic review of specific regulations, given the dynamic nature of telemedicine advancements and the necessity for the industry to adapt to patient needs.