Panic Button Bracelet, A First In Romania For Elderly Home Care
The bracelet with panic button is a device enabling elderly people to send a warning by simply pressing the red button or the predefined speed-dial buttons on a cell phone connected to a call-centre, whenever an event such as ill-health needs urgent assistance.
The dispatch station identifies the data of the patient requiring medical care and it can send a specialized team from the White-Yellow Cross Foundation Romania, call 112 or send to the beneficiary the closest person on the list of those who can intervene immediately.
The project is a national premiere regarding home care services for the elderly. (Adevarul)
Romania Posts RON4.2B Budget Surplus In 1H/2015
Romania’s consolidated budget posted a surplus of RON4.2 billion, or 0.6% of the GDP, in the first half of 2015, compared to a deficit of RON3.5 billion, or 0.5% of the GDP, in the same period in 2014, according to Finance Ministry data.
Romania’s budget revenue rose to RON110.6 billion in the first six months (15.8% of the GDP, up 10.2% in nominal terms against the same period a year ago). Revenue collections from the value added tax (18.3%), the income tax (14.2%), non-tax revenue (11.1%) and excise duties (8.6%) saw ‘unprecedented’ increases.
The budget’s total expenditure rose to RON106.4 billion, up 2.5% from the first six months of 2014, but fell by 0.4 percentage points as weight in the GDP against the year-ago period.
Goods and services expenses decreased by 2.4%, while costs with interest rates fell 7.9%. Investment expenses, which include capital expenses and costs with development programs financed from domestic and external sources, reached RON9.6 billion, or 1.4% of the GDP, in nominal terms, in January-June, the same as in the year-ago interval. (Evenimentul Zilei)
New Tax Code And Budget Revision, Main Issues On Ponta Cabinet’s Agenda
The new Tax Code and the budget revision are the main issues on which the Ponta Cabinet will focus in the upcoming period.
In both cases, the Executive seems generous with state budget funds, and without giving up its promise to increase public sector wages as of January 1, 2016. The implementation of the Tax Code alone will trigger a budget deficit of 2.3% of the GDP, namely, RON17 billion, according to central bank governor Mugur Isarescu, who said the new Tax Code is ‘inapplicable.’ Isarescu said the new Tax Code is inapplicable due to the impact the planned tax cuts would have on the country’s gross domestic product and saluted President Klaus Iohannis’ decision to send it back to Parliament for reexamination.
Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, in turn, said the law obliges the Government to draw up a plan of measures and present it to the Parliament.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the Tax Code will be discussed by the Senate, in extraordinary session, probably after August 15, and will be subsequently discussed in the Chamber of Deputies, which is decider on the matter. (Puterea)
Finance Minister Says Health Ministry Not To Lose Money At Budget Revision
Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici recently told an interview for Digi24 that the Health Ministry will not lose money at this year’s first budget revision to be approved by the Government Tuesday, July 28.
Teodorovici also said he is deeply disappointed by the way the Transport Ministry spends the money assigned to it. He said the ministry either fails to spend the money it receives or asks for more money.
As regards investments, Teodorovici said there are over 4,600 construction sites in Romania which require over RON13 billion to complete the respective works, adding Romania does not have the money at the moment. (Adevarul)
President Klaus Iohannis Meets Austrian Counterpart Heinz Fischer In Salzburg
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis met Sunday, in Salzburg, with Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer.
The presidential administration said in a statement that the two heads of state talked about the evolution of bilateral ties and also touched on important issues on the European and international agendas. (Puterea)