Regional Emergency Hospital To Be Built In Cluj Within Nearly EUR150M Investment
Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu said the feasibility studies for a Regional Emergency Hospital in Cluj (northwestern Romania) will be updated to the 2015 level.
According to the minister, the project will be carried through in three years and the investment reaches nearly EUR150 million. Financing will be covered by EU Funds, through the Regional Operational Program.
“Investment costs are related to the feasibility studies, depending on the number of beds, whether they will be 800 or 1,000 beds. The amount will probably reach some EUR150 million, plus other amounts for equipment, through an agreement with the World Bank,” said Banicioiu. (Romania Libera)
Some 750,000 Romanians Have Hepatitis C
Although there are some 750,000 Romanians with Hepatitis C, the Health Ministry is not doing anything to track and cure them.
For nearly 25-30 years, hundreds of thousands Romanians are infected with the Hepatitis C virus and do not even know it.
Only 5% of people who became infected display specific symptoms and are easy to track and cure. The annual average of infection with the Hepatitis C virus is 3.23% of the Romanian population. There are counties below the average (Timis with 2.8%) and counties exceeding the average (Hunedoara and Caras-Severin with 5%).
Hepatitis C is a disease caused by a virus that infects the liver. In time, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Many people do not know that they have hepatitis C until they already have some liver damage. Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus and it is spread by contact with an infected person’s blood. (Puterea)
Romania’s Labor Code Could Be Amended
Romania’s Labor Code could be significantly amended, according to a legislative initiative which was approved by the Senate last Wednesday.
The main amendments include, among others, the length of the annual leave and the bonuses for overtime work.
The proposition, put forward by the National Union Bloc (BNS), sets that employees’ overtime work will be compensated through work-free hours paid in the next 30 days, compared to 60 days stipulated in the current Labor Code. Moreover, employees will also receive a bonus of at least 75% of the base salary.
Another amendment sets that the maximum length of the working time must not exceed 48 hours per week, including additional hours. However, there are certain fields of activity which make an exception to the rule. (Adevarul)
Agriculture Minister Goes To Brussels To Ask For Support For Drought-Hit Farmers
Romania’s Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin is going to Brussels Monday to look for solutions aimed at supporting both farmers affected by drought and producers whose revenues fell due to the crisis in the milk sector.
Constantin said recently, at a meeting of the agriculture committee in the Chamber of Deputies, that the maize, sunflower and soy crops were the most affected by drought this year, but animal breeders also suffered losses.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta has expressed his concern that the drought and the problems in the agricultural sector will affect Romania’s economic growth toward the end of the year. (Puterea)
Bucharest Mayor Sorin Oprescu Placed Under Preventive Arrest
Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu, who was detained by anticorruption prosecutors after being caught receiving a EUR25,000 bribe, was placed under preventive arrest for 30 days following a ruling of the Bucharest Court.
The court ruling is not definitive and may be appealed with the Bucharest Appeals Court.
According to prosecutors, Oprescu received the money through the head of an institution within the Bucharest City Hall, from four people who became informants for prosecutors.
Oprescu was detained Saturday night by anticorruption prosecutors for taking bribe. Prosecutors said Oprescu was part of a group of civil servants working in Bucharest public administration who granted public works contracts to companies in exchange for receiving some of the profits back as bribes. (Adevarul)