Chreih added service costs decreased “despite the fact most private healthcare providers have massively invested over the last years.”
Florin Andronescu, business developer at Sanador also stressed upon the tough competition in the private medical sector field, which dragged prices down. According to Andronescu, the market “is still sustainable but it could aggravate.”
He embraced the new healthcare bill the Romanian authorities are currently working at, pointing out the country needs financing for healthcare services and a better resources management.
“We need a much better resource management. France, which has one of the highest health budget, covers only 80% of a patient’s bill, while the rest is being paid through mutual systems, private insurances, the patient’s owns funds. If such a country is using this solution, Romania should moreover take into account opening this market,” Andronescu said.
On the other hand, Chreih said private insurances are not very popular in the retail area and are mostly concluded by corporate clients due to the population’s low purchasing power.
Chreih said a private insurance covering all family members, spouses and child, reaches around EUR150/month, the private healthcare insurance “competing with a bank installment.”
Nevertheless, Einte Elsinga, senior manager health insurance & policy with MSD Olanda, believes the healthcare costs are on an increasing trend in Romania, the same as in the Netherlands.
Elsinga said the Dutch people spend around 25% of their income on healthcare service, and this ratio is further increasing. “Romania is heading in the same direction,” he added.