Romania Health Min Angry With Downbeat EU Health Consumer Top

The 2008 Euro Health Consumer Index does not have a clear methodology, it includes contradictory data and it makes impermissible remarks about the Romanian healthcare system, Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said Friday.

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The annual consumer study, compiled by Health Consumer Powerhouse think-tank, ranked Romanian healthcare system 27th out of 31 countries in Europe, two spots down compared to the 2007 report.

“This study brings impermissible criticism to Romania, as it does not use clear methodology or indicators,” Nicolaescu said.

He said some of the indicators used in the study should not have been considered, as they are part of the ongoing healthcare reform in Romania.

“While the reform is ongoing, we go further until we have outcome the situation,” Nicolaescu said, mentioning the reform “cannot produce results by tomorrow.”

The 2008 Euro Health Consumer Index placed Romania in the category of weak performers in Europe.

Romania scored only 488 points out of possible 1,000 in the annual health consumer study, ranking ahead neighbor Bulgaria but still far behind Hungary on the 14th spot.

The Romanian healthcare system “urgently needs to improve in every area, especially outcomes,” the study said.

“Romania shares the problem of unofficial payments to doctors with several of its neighbors,” it noted.

Euro Health Consumer Index, first published in 2005, uses indicators in six categories: patient rights and information; e-health; waiting time for treatment; outcomes; range and reach of the services provided; and pharmaceuticals.

It covers the 27 EU nations and four others.

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