Romanian Govt OKs Health Vouchers

The health vouchers will be free of charge for underprivileged categories, Bazac said.

 

“We propose the Finance Ministry to allow discounts for health vouchers, both for employers and for the liberal professions sector. We do not see this to be a problem, as discounts are already applied for vacation tickets, meal and gift vouchers,” he added.

 

Bazac said the introduction of health vouchers was one of the terms stipulated in the financial arrangement signed by Romania with the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the World Bank.   

 

The general medical services and the health vouchers are essential for the Romanian healthcare system and are part of the structural reform in the system, Bazac mentioned.

 

The measures will lead to diminished payments, improvement of the financing in the healthcare system and to increased quality of the medical services.

 

According to a draft decision initiated by the Health Ministry, Romania will have a national medical services package that will cover free medical assistance for real emergencies and surgeries. Additional services covered by the package include EKG and ecography tests. 

 

The health voucher represents co-payment of the taxpayer to the medical services provided, the medication and the medical equipment utilized. The voucher will be used for outgoing procedures, services provided by hospitals (excepting emergencies) and for paraclinic investigations.

 

According to ministry’s estimates, the personal contribution via health vouchers will raise to some RON350 per year for a “medium patient.” The calculation considers two hospitalizations for more than 24 hours, two hospitalizations for 24 hours or less. Six to eight visits to the family medic, four visits to a specialized medic, one house call, 10 lab tests, one radiological investigation and one high-performance investigation.

 

Health vouchers prices were set considering tariffs utilized in countries such as Estonia, Croatia and Hungary.